BIOGRAPHY: Ferlon Charles Christians, the newly-appointed Chief Executive Officer for the Independent Democrats
08-05-2007. Born in Bonteheuwel in 1965, Ferlon Charles Christians is a Capetonian with impressive work record that includes a number of managerial positions.
Born in Bonteheuwel in 1965, Ferlon
Charles Christians is a Capetonian with impressive work record that
includes a number of managerial positions. He and his wife Debbie have
two sons. His mother, Levonia was evicted from her home in Newlands
before Ferlon’s birth as a result of the Group Areas Act. Christians
and his siblings were raised by their aunt. Ferlon met his father,
Maurice Petersen (now deceased) for the first time when he was 29 years
old.
‘My Christian lifestyle have exposed me to various leadership
roles in the church and assisted me in putting Christian principles in
place in my life,’ Christians, who is active in the Harfield Assembly
of God Church, says. He has an extensive education. After attending the Bonteheuwel High School, where he passed his junior certificate, due to the political unrest of the 80s he was forced to matriculate through Intec College. Christians then attained a diploma in law and law enforcement from Stellenbosch College. ‘I have studied law for three years at the University of the Western Cape and have completed various other courses, including the Seven Habits of Effective Leadership, Emotional Intelligence and Project Management,’ he says. Besides this, Christians has served on numerous NGO’s, including the Bonteheuwel Health Committee, Portland Neighborhood Watch and the Bishop Lavis Police Forum. ‘I worked for some time in the Bonteheuwel Constituency office, dealing with labour disputes, council matters, welfare and other community-related issues,’ Christians says.
In the early 1990s he served on the Head Council of the National Party, under the leadership of FW de Klerk. He was appointed the Administrative Head of the office of the Western Cape MEC for Police, Local Government and Housing and then worked for the National Minister for Welfare and Population Development’s office.
Christians has extensive experience in local government, particularly in the field of legislation. ‘I decided to join the ID because it is an issue driven party that does not base its support on race, but on issues that work to bridge the divides between our people and make a difference in the lives of ordinary citizens,’ Christians says. ID President Patricia de Lille says Christians’ appointment is part of ‘a process of consolidating the ID’s rapid gains over the past four years.
‘The CEO will manage the administration, political programme and party building departments. Mr Christians is joining us at a very exciting time and we are confident that he will assist us, the political leaders of the ID, to achieve our goals,’ Ms De Lille says.
Issued by the ID Media Office
Steven Otter - 084 233 3811
