Who is Dereleen James? Dereleen Elana James is an ActionSA Member of Parliament (MP) known for converting personal tragedy into public activism — particularly around drugs, gangs and community safety. She serves in the National Assembly and has become a visible voice on substance-abuse prevention and community rehabilitation programmes.
Born 9 July 1976 (age 49), Dereleen’s story moved her from grassroots activism in Eldorado Park to national politics, where she uses her platform to hold security structures to account and to push for social interventions that target the root causes of crime. (Contact details: not disclosed.)
Dereleen James Biography
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Full name | Dereleen Elana James |
| Age / DOB | 49 years — 9 July 1976 |
| Party | ActionSA |
| Role | Member of Parliament, National Assembly; Deputy Chair/Member on caucus & ad-hoc committees |
| Key causes | Anti-drug activism, gang prevention, community rehabilitation |
| Notable org | Founder, Yellow Ribbon Foundation |
| Contact | Not disclosed |
| Public social | @DereleenJ (X/Twitter) |
| Recent spotlight | Led questioning in Parliament’s PKTT/Policing ad-hoc committee hearings |
Early life & turning point
Dereleen’s activism began after a personal family crisis — her son’s struggle with substance abuse — which spurred her into community organising and advocacy. She founded the Yellow Ribbon Foundation, focused on community-based initiatives to fight substance abuse and rehabilitate those affected. This lived experience shaped her approach: practical, community-first, and persistent.
Political career & public roles
Dereleen James holds several notable roles and appointments tied to her anti-drugs work and community activism, including appointments to national boards concerned with drug-free sport and drug policy. She entered Parliament via ActionSA and has been nominated to serve on parliamentary committees addressing security and crime-related matters. Her inauguration to parliamentary roles amplifies the local activism she’s long championed.
The PKTT hearing — Dereleen in the national spotlight
In recent high-profile hearings before Parliament’s ad-hoc committee investigating policing and the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), Dereleen James pressed witness Dr Mary de Haas over a letter de Haas had written calling for the disbandment of the PKTT. James argued that de Haas’s letter influenced decisions at ministerial level and caused instability in the security cluster; the exchange was widely covered by media and social channels. Dereleen’s questioning reflected her insistence on accountability from those whose reports or requests can influence policing policy and the use of specialised units.
Qualifications & boards
While Dereleen’s public profile is dominated by activism and political work, she has also been appointed to boards and forums tied to anti-drug and youth interventions, reflecting official recognition of her expertise and community credibility. Specific board roles include appointments tied to drug-free sport and national drug strategy bodies.
Personal life: son & family
Dereleen’s public narrative often references her son as the catalyst for her anti-drugs advocacy; she has been candid about the family struggle with addiction and how it reshaped her mission. She has used her voice to move policy conversations from abstract debates into person-centred, compassionate interventions. For privacy reasons she does not disclose personal contact details publicly.
Achievements & impact
-
Mobilised grassroots communities around drug rehabilitation and prevention.
-
Founder of the Yellow Ribbon Foundation — providing education and community support to tackle addiction.
-
Appointed to national boards and forums addressing drug policy and sport-related drug-free initiatives.
-
A vocal parliamentarian, intervening in high-profile security and policing inquiries to demand transparency.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How old is Dereleen James?
A: Dereleen James was born on 9 July 1976 and is 49 years old.
Q: What party does Dereleen James belong to?
A: She is a Member of Parliament for ActionSA.
Q: Does Dereleen James have a foundation or NGO?
A: Yes — she founded the Yellow Ribbon Foundation, focused on substance-abuse education and community responses.
Q: Are her contact details public?
A: No — her personal contact details are not publicly disclosed. Public-facing enquiries are typically routed via official parliamentary or ActionSA channels.
Q: What was Dereleen James’ role in the PKTT/Parliament hearings?
A: She questioned Dr Mary de Haas and others in an ad-hoc parliamentary committee, pressing on the impact of de Haas’s letter calling for the disbandment of the PKTT and raising accountability concerns.
Dereleen James bridges community activism and national policy. Her profile is relevant to readers tracking South African politics, community safety, drug policy reform, and how lived experience informs parliamentary oversight. Including verified facts, timely references to parliamentary hearings, and clear metadata helps this post rank for searches related to her biography, actions, and policy interests.
Conclusion
Dereleen James is an activist-turned-MP whose personal story and community work brought her into South Africa’s national political conversation. From founding a community-based rehabilitation initiative to holding powerful actors to account in Parliament, her mix of lived experience and public service continues to shape discussions on drugs, gangs, and policing. For anyone researching contemporary South African activists in politics, Dereleen’s trajectory is an instructive example of the transition from local campaigning to national oversight.
