Fatima Chohan

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific_prefix = Her Excellency

| name = Fatima Chohan

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| office = Deputy Minister of Home Affairs

| term_start = 1 November 2010

| term_end = 29 May 2019

| president = Jacob Zuma

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| successor = Njabulo Nzuza

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| nationality = South African

| party = African National Congress

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| alma_mater = University of Witwatersrand Rhodes University{{cite web|url=http://www.pa.org.za/person/fatima-ismail-chohan/|title=Fatima Chohan|website=People's Assembly|accessdate=7 March 2018}}

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Fatima Ismail Chohan (formerly known as Fatima Chohan-Kota{{Cite web |date=2004-05-07 |title=Asmal gets top Parliament post |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2004-05-07-asmal-gets-top-parliament-post/ |access-date=2022-04-24 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}) is a South African politician and activist who is currently deputy chair of the South African Human Rights Commission.{{Cite web |last=Monama |first=Tebogo |title=SAHRC says financial constraints are hampering its work |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/sahrc-says-financial-constraints-are-hampering-its-work-20220316 |access-date=2022-04-24 |website=News24 |language=en-US}} A member of the African National Congress (ANC), Chohan was formerly a member of the National Assembly of South Africa, where she served from 1996 to 2019.{{Cite web |title=Fatima Chohan |url=http://www.pa.org.za/person/fatima-ismail-chohan/ |access-date=2022-04-24 |website=People's Assembly |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=February |first=Judith |title=JUDITH FEBRUARY: What's needed for our new Parliament to be effective |url=https://ewn.co.za/2019/05/16/judith-february-what-s-needed-for-our-new-parliament-to-be-effective |access-date=2022-04-24 |website=ewn.co.za |language=en}}

From 2010 to 2019, Chohan served as Deputy Minister of Home Affairs under President Jacob Zuma. A Muslim South African, Chohan is a former member of the Executive Committee of the Muslim Student Society.{{Cite web |title=Fatima Ismail Chohan, Ms {{!}} South African Government |url=https://www.gov.za/about-government/contact-directory/fatima-ismail-chohan-ms |access-date=2022-04-24 |website=www.gov.za}}

Early life and education

Chohan completed her schooling in Laudium, Gauteng. She attended the University of Witwatersrand, where she received her B.Proc. degree. As a student, Chohan was a member of the Black Students Society from 1987 to 1990 and served as a member of the Executive Committee of the Muslim Student Society.

Legal career

In 1998, Chohan was admitted to the Side Bar. Chohan was a legal advisor to the Gauteng Legislature and chairwoman of the Western Cape's Provincial Committee on the Magistrates Commission. She later became deputy head of Metro Legal Services in Greater Johannesburg.

Political career

In 1996, Chohan became a member of the National Assembly of South Africa. During the presidency of Thabo Mbeki, Chohan was considered a "rising star" within the ruling African National Congress (ANC).{{Cite web |date=2010-11-02 |title=The day the president came calling |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2010-11-02-the-day-president-came-calling/ |access-date=2022-04-24 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}

Chohan was appointed Deputy Minister of Home Affairs in November 2010 and was reappointed in May 2014, serving in the position until May 2019.{{cite web |last1=Pillai |first1=Venugopal |date=21 January 2014 |title=Profile: Fatima Chohan |url=http://www.info.gov.za/leaders/depmin/homeaff.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111220012409/http://www.info.gov.za/leaders/depmin/homeaff.htm |archive-date=20 December 2011 |access-date=21 January 2014 |website= |publisher=}} In this role, Chohan was an outspoken supporter of liberal refugee resettlement policies.{{Cite web |title=SA to continue with liberal refugee policy |url=https://www.iol.co.za/capetimes/news/sa-to-continue-with-liberal-refugee-policy-1782476 |access-date=2022-04-24 |website=www.iol.co.za |language=en}} In the 2019 South African general election, Chohan served as a surrogate for the ANC's outreach into Muslim communities.{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Rebecca |date=2018-05-30 |title=CYRIL REACHES OUT: Ramaphosa accelerates Western Cape charm offensive as he targets Muslim vote |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2018-05-31-ramaphosa-accelerates-western-cape-charm-offensive-as-he-targets-muslim-vote/ |access-date=2022-04-24 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}} However, as a result of the party receiving a reduced majority in the election, Chohan lost her seat in parliament.

= South African Human Rights Committee (SAHRC) =

In 2021, Chohan was recommended for the position of deputy chair of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) by the parliamentary committee on justice and correctional services.{{Cite web |date=2021-05-25 |title=Two women candidates recommended for SAHRC |url=https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/two-women-candidates-recommended-sahrc |access-date=2022-04-24 |website=SAnews |language=en}} Since taking office, Chohan has advocated for an increase in funding for the SAHRC, arguing that budget constraints hinder the commission's activities.