[1] The party is led by Roger Jardine, a prominent Anti-Apartheid activist with a track record in private sector and government leadership.
[7] The movement emerged as a response to ongoing debates about the state of South Africa and a perceived gap between the promises outlined in the country's constitution and the current reality.
[15] Public reception to Change Starts Now has been diverse, with supporters praising its commitment to the principles outlined in "The South Africa We Want And Deserve".
[17][18] Willie Esterhuyse, who played an important role in the negotiations leading up to the transition to a democracy in South Africa,[19] remarked in an interview published in Die Burger newspaper on 15 February 2024 that "From political history we learn that countries are saved by organized middle groups.
I for one would be prepared to pay taxes that are needed to support the reconstruction and growth fund with real confidence that the money would be used meaningfully to secure a prosperous future.