Reagen Allen
Reagen Ivan Allen is a South African politician and previous comedian who currently serves as a Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament for the Democratic Alliance (DA).
Reagen Allen | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament | |
| Assumed office 12 December 2018 | |
| Constituency | Athlone |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Mitchells Plain |
| Nationality | South African |
| Political party | Democratic Alliance |
| Spouse(s) | Edwinah Allen |
| Relations | Keith Allen (father) |
| Profession | Politician |
| Known for | Politics, Comedy, Youth Work |
| Committees | Education, Community Safety and Cultural Affairs and Sport |
| Portfolio | Chair of the Community Safety, Cultural Affairs and Sport Committee |
Life and career
Allen was born and grew up in Rocklands, Mitchells Plain on the Cape Flats in Cape Town. He initially began his career as a comedian. He won the Cape Town Comedy Club's 2018 #yourfunnycider competition.[1] and was nominated for a Comics Choice Award 2019.[2]
Allen has obtained numerous qualifications in Public Relations and Paralegal Studies. He graduated from the DA's 2012 Young Leaders Programme. He studied at the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom in Germany, while he served as the DA's Youth National Media and Publicity chairperson.[3]
In December 2018, he was sworn in as a Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament. He filled the vacancy created by the resignation of Dan Plato. He was elected to a full term as a Member in May 2019 and was consequently appointed Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Community Safety, Cultural Affairs and Sports.[4]
Following the murders of eight-year-old Tazne van Wyk and seven-year-old Reagan Gertse. They were killed in separate incidents in 2020, allegedly by men who were out on parole, Allen contacted the Department of Justice and Correctional Services to request a briefing on apparent failures in this system. Allen said: "The spotlight must be shown on the parole system so that it can be interrogated, investigated and corrected. We do not take our constitutional oversight obligation lightly and we will continue to do everything possible to ensure accountability and transparency in the interests of justice".[5]
References
- Leitch, Marsha. Funny man crowned comedy club winner, Plainsman, 19 September 2018. Retrieved on 5 August 2019.
- Nominees for the 2019 Savanna Comics Choice Awards, "Channel24", 10 July 2019. Retrieved on 13 March 2020.
- Leitch, Marsha. Comedian takes up seat in provincial legislature, Plainsman, 29 May 2019. Retrieved on 5 August 2019.
- Gerber, Jan. Former Bitou mayor to chair Western Cape's Scopa, News24, 4 June 2019. Retrieved on 5 August 2019.
- Isaacs, Lauren.DA accuses parole board of failing to account to WC legislature, "EWN", 11 March 2020. Retrieved on 13 March 2020.