Johannes Strijdom
Johannes Gerhardus Strijdom (1893 - 1958), the “lion of the Transvaal” is a former Prime Minister of South Africa between 1954 and 1958.
Born the July 14th 1893 in Klipfontein close to Willowmore (Colony of the Cape), JG Strijdom (Strydom in Afrikaans) made its studies in Victoria College of Stellenbosh then to Pretoria.
Excel athlete, captain of the team of Rugby of Pretoria, stockbreeder of ostrich during some time then civil servant, it continued studies of right before returning to agriculture. Lawyer, it is elected appointed in 1929 for the district of Waterberg (Nylstroom) under the colors of the national Parti the 1st minister James Barry Hertzog. In 1934, it is among the 12 deputies who refused the coalition between Jan Smuts and Hertzog, and follows Daniel Malan.
It quickly assembles the levels of the National Party (NP) removed from its pro-Hertzog majority, becomes the chief of NP in Transvaal and director of Die Transvaaler , the principal newspaper in Afrikaans of the north of the country.
Partisan of the Germany in 1939, it is violently Antisémite in several of his speeches.
Member of the first government NP in 1948, it is in favor of a more thorough segregation still than the Apartheid envisages it. He recommends the “ Baasskap ”, i.e. the white, complete and absolute domination of the Master. He believes in the master-slave relations and refuses any collaboration with the other races what would mean, for him, a slow death.
In 1954, it leaves for the first time its life the borders South Africa for short holidays in Europe.
The November 30th 1954, it succeeds Daniel Malan, although this one had preferred Nicolaas Havenga to him, more moderated, to take its succession with the head of the party and the government.
Strijdom Prime Minister makes eliminate from the government the elements most moderated until having around him only the “people of the north” of South Africa, i.e. most radical. Among them, one finds his future successor, Hendrik Verwoerd, the great architect of the separate development; Jan de Klerk, his/her beautiful brother and father of a future president of South Africa; Théophilus Donges, powerful Minister of Interior Department and Charles Swart, the Minister for Justice.
Strijdom continues the policy of apartheid and makes withdraw the right to vote with the mongrels of the Cape and makes extend political repression against 156 black activists of which Nelson Mandela implied in the drafting of the charter of freedom.
Strijdom dies suddenly the August 24th 1958 with the Cape. The international airport of Windhoek in Namibia bore its name until in 1990.
Many arteries and monuments continue to pay homage to him. Bronze a giant bust of Strijdom, carried out by the sculptor Coert Steynberg, had been inaugurated the May 31st 1972 with Pretoria by Mrs Susan Strijdom. It belonged to the monumental unit which dominated the place Strijdom (Strijdom Square). At the date of the May 31st 2001, this bust and the cupola which overhung it are broken down victim of corrosion. It was then withdrawn and should join the museum located in its house of Nylstroom, its old stronghold.
Married in second weddings in 1931 with Susanna de Klerk, JG Strijdom is also father of 2 children and uncle of the future president Frederik de Klerk.
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