Bradley Ruiters was born in Belgravia Road, Crawford in 1965 and later moved to Lotus River. Following in the steps of his dad, he attended the very politically conscious Livingstone High School where he was taught by liberation education icons like Richard Dudley and Simon Banda. Livingstonians will know that this was for many their first awakening to the injustice around them. “I was even more fortunate to do my JMB Matric at SACHED College in Mowbray under the directorship of anti-apartheid intellectual (Uncle) Dr Neville Alexander. A typical History lesson at SACHED College lesson was to join a protest like the Don’t Vote! campaign against PW Botha’s Tricameral Parliament. From SACHED he went on to study Law at The University of the Western Cape in 1985.

Bradley later turned to technical pursuits – electronics and computers. After working for various CCTV and intruder detection companies he formed his own electronic security business in 2001. Brad & his wife Lynn later also later started a media agency specializing in commercial photography and e-commerce web development.

Activism does not leave one though, so he has always been a community activist in some form or other. During Covid-19 hard-lockdown in 2020 Brad and Lynn partnered with The Grassy Park Empowerment Forum to raise funds and make up food hampers which they delivered to neighbours who were hardest hit by the inability to work. His experiences working in the electronic security field has meant that he always started or affiliated with local Neighbourhood Watch organizations.

After becoming disillusioned with the political direction of the country, Bradley joined COPE when it was founded in 2008, and as one of its “5-Flies” group of thinkers organized and assisted with strategy for the party in the Western Cape leading up to the 2009 General Elections. In the run-up to the 2016 Local elections, he was part of the EFF Western Cape communications team. The EFF won 12 PR seats in the Western Cape in its first foray into SA local government.

“ I am excited to avail my experience and political acumen in this fast and nimble vehicle which is The Credible Alternative 1st Movement, being built in flight, and to contest LGE2021 elections as a candidate for Wards 66 and 67”. Bradley Ruiters