Mr Amichand Rajbansi
MPL Minister of Sports & Recreation, KwaZulu-Natal

Born in 1942 whose forebearers were builders and fishermen, Minister Rajbansi hailed from the Clairwood area. Presently living in Chatsworth, Mr Rajbansi prefers to be among the grassroots people he serves. He is married to Shameen who is also a Member of Parliament in the KZN Legislature.

From a very early age Mr Rajbansi abhorred the suppression and oppression and became a keen student in the African struggle for liberation. He joined the Indian Youth League at a young age which worked very closely with the ANC Youth League. Amongst other prominent leaders which he worked with was the Late Albert Luthuli and Moses Mabhida.

He served in the Tricameral Parliament as a means to an end for a true non-racial South Africa. Mr Rajbansi played a very active role at Codesa where South Africa`s first democratic constitution was formulated.

In 1994 he launched the Minority Front, which won one seat in the KZN Legislature. In 1996 the Minority Front did well in the first Local Government Elections and the 1999 Parliamentary Elections he led the MF to win two seats in the KZN Legislature an one seat in the National Assembly. He improved the MF in the 2000 Local Government Elections and the MF held the balance of power in the EThekwini Municipality. He led the MF with improved results in the Parliamentary Elections giving the ANC the 40 seats required to get the Premiership.

In April 2004 the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Mr. Sbu Ndebele, recognised Mr. Rajbansi’s contribution to politics and in particular the communities of KZN and awarded him the Ministry of Sport and Recreation. This portfolio, which Mr Rajbansi has been appointed to on 23 April 2004, is not new to him. He was a former schoolteacher, and more importantly a sports administrator and also a former Pro Soccer Referee. This Province can expect a total transformation in sports with much attention being given to the previously disadvantaged communities.

Lastly, Mr Rajbansi is an astute politician and an excellent debater that gets the job done.