In high school, Derrick America was a vocal opponent of apartheid and organised student protests.
12 Facts About Derrick America
1.
2.
Derrick America first started work at the South African Post Office, where he had a confrontation with management about the apartheid system in place for employees.
3.
Derrick America was then educated at the University of the Western Cape where he received a Bachelor of Commerce with Honours.
4.
Derrick America subsequently completed a Master of Business Administration at the Curtin University in Perth, Western Australia.
5.
Derrick America then worked as a school teacher, teaching business economics and accounting.
6.
Derrick America then served as an academic at Cape Peninsula University of Technology until 2009, lecturing in labour law and business courses.
7.
Derrick America arbitrated on labour disputes at the Commission for Concilliation Mediation and Arbitration from 2009 to 2011.
8.
Derrick America was first elected as a Councillor in the City of Cape Town in May 2011.
9.
Derrick America represented residents of Kensington, Factreton, Maitland until 2014.
10.
Derrick America was elected as a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa in May 2014, representing the Democratic Alliance.
11.
Derrick America was elected to the Western Cape Provincial Parliament in 2019.
12.
Derrick America left the Provincial Parliament at the general election on 29 May 2024 as he did not make himself available for re-election.