Jennifer Ferguson

{{Short description|South African singer-songwriter}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Jennifer Ferguson

| background = solo_singer

| origin = South Africa

| genre = Political music, Cabaret

| occupation = Singer-songwriter, Political activist, Former Member of Parliament

| years_active = 1980s–present

| label = Shifty Records

}}

Jennifer Ferguson is a South African singer-songwriter and political activist, and former member of Parliament for the African National Congress in South Africa. She recorded her first two albums of music through Shifty Records and was part of a burgeoning political music, theatre and cabaret scene in Johannesburg during the late 1980s.

A 2007 book described her songs as being "about the insanity of racism and war and the importance of humanity, peace and harmony".{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HkuXMAtuAh4C|title=Jazz, Blues & Swing: Six Decades of Music in South Africa|date=2007|publisher=New Africa Books|isbn=9780864867056|language=en}}

Under Apartheid, Ferguson was known for her blatant support for the then-banned ANC from the stage, which saw her targeted by security police. In one instance government agents, using tickets bought with state funds, disrupted one of her concerts by releasing tear gas in a theatre.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=auHZqhhTkF0C|title=Total Onslaught: Apartheid's Dirty Tricks Exposed|last=Potgieter|first=De Wet|date=2007|publisher=Zebra|isbn=9781770073289|language=en}}

In 1997 Ferguson resigned from Parliament and started to split her time between South Africa and Sweden. Shortly before, she had abstained on a vote about abortion, despite party orders to vote in favour of it or stay away on the day of the sitting.{{Cite news|url=https://mg.co.za/article/1997-04-18-ill-fly-away|title=I'll fly away ...|author=Staff Reporter|work=The M&G Online|access-date=2017-11-01|language=en}}

In October 2017 Ferguson accused football administrator and politician Danny Jordaan of raping her 24 years before. She said the #MeToo campaign had inspired her to speak out.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-41678057|title=South Africa football boss 'raped singer'|date=2017-10-19|work=BBC News|access-date=2017-11-01|language=en-GB}} Jordaan denied the allegation.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-41829506|title=SA football boss Danny Jordaan denies raping Jennifer Ferguson|date=2017-11-01|work=BBC|access-date=2019-04-01|language=en-GB}}

In March 2018 Ferguson laid a charge of rape against Jordaan{{Cite web|url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/gauteng/jennifer-ferguson-lays-rape-charge-against-danny-jordaan-14057086|title=Jennifer Ferguson lays rape charge against Danny Jordaan {{!}} IOL News|website=www.iol.co.za|language=en|access-date=2019-01-07}} and said she expected more women to come forward about assault by Jordaan.{{Cite web|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/soccer/2018-03-26-more-women-to-come-out-about-assault-by-safa-boss-jennifer-ferguson/|title=More women to come out about assault by Safa boss: Jennifer Ferguson|website=www.timeslive.co.za|language=en|access-date=2019-01-07}} Jordaan claimed that the criminal charges had been catalysed by his professional rival Irvin Khoza,{{Cite web|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/2018-04-28-danny-jordaan-lays-charges-against-irvin-khoza/|title=Danny Jordaan lays charges against Irvin Khoza|website=www.timeslive.co.za|language=en|access-date=2019-01-07}} and said Khoza had paid for Ferguson's flight to South Africa to lay the complaint.{{Cite web|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/2018-05-05-new-twist-in-jordaan-khoza-row/|title=New twist in Jordaan-Khoza row|website=www.timeslive.co.za|language=en|access-date=2019-01-07}} Khoza denied this, Ferguson produced documents to the contrary, and leaked evidence of Khoza's purported involvement was reported to have had "worrying discrepancies".{{Cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/jennifer-ferguson-reveals-who-paid-for-her-trip-to-south-africa-20180504|title=Jennifer Ferguson reveals who paid for her trip to South Africa|date=2018-05-04|website=News24|language=en|access-date=2019-01-07}}