Kobie Coetsee

Hendrik Jacobus (Kobie) Coetsee (1931 - 2000) was a lawyer afrikaner and a Politician of South Africa, member of the national Parti (NP), Minister for justice of 1980 with 1994 and defense of 1993 at 1994, negotiator of the government during the phase of transition towards the multiracial Démocratie in 1992 - 1994 and chair Sénat of 1994 1996.

Kobie Coetsee was born the April 19th 1931 with Ladybrand in the free State from Orange, only sons of Johannes Coetsee and Josephine, born van Zyl. His/her grandfather chaired the section of the National Party of Ladybrand. Graduate in right of the University of the free State of Orange in 1954, he is already a militant policy of the section coed of the National Party. Its mentor had been besides Charles Swart, elected district of Ladybrand and nationalist minister.

The October 6th 1956, it marries Helena Elizabeth Malan of which it will have 3 girls and 2 boys. He is then lawyer.

In 1968, Kobie Coetsee is elected appointed (NP) of the district of Bloemfontein Western.

It is allowed with the bar of Bloemfontein in 1972 and follows the lawyer occupation.

The October 12th 1978, Coetsee becomes the vice-minister of defense and the national security in the government of Pieter Botha. It reorganizes the secret services then.

The October 7th 1980, he becomes Minister for justice. South Africa then owes him a liberalization of the matrimonial legislation concerning the married women. It also tries to reform the operation of the courts of justice in order to protect the right of the groups and the individuals out of any racial discrimination like granting a temporary immunity to the negotiators of prohibited parties.

The June 22nd 1985, he becomes the president of the National Party in the free Orange State.

In 1987, president Botha charges it with carrying out the widening of certain political prisoners like Govan Mbeki, quickly released. Coetsee organizes on this occasion the first meets nonofficial between the South African president and Nelson Mandela, imprisoned since 1965.

In October 1989, whereas Frederik de Klerk succeeded Botha, Coetsee contacts Nelson Mandela in its prison to discuss the conditions of its release.

After the legalization of ANC in 1990 and the release of Mandela, Coetsee belongs to the governmental delegation which officially meets for the first time the leaders of the ANC with Groote Schuur with the Cape in order to carry out the negotiations on the future of South Africa.

In July 1991, Coetsee abolishes the clauses of the internal law of safety concerning the prohibition of the publications favorable to the Communisme and the prohibited organizations but also the clauses restricting the freedom of the press or freedom of movement of the people.

In 1991 and 1992, it is an essential actor of the constitutional negotiations within the framework of Convention for democratic South Africa (Convention for has Democratic South Africa - Codesa).

In April 1993, its ministerial wallet grows rich by that of defense.

After the multiracial elections of 1994, new president Nelson Mandela will requéra it to be member of its government but it is with the presidency of the new Senate that Kobie Coetsee exerted its last political office of importance until the installation of a new constitution in 1996 and the replacement of the Senate by the National council of the Provinces.

Kobie Coetsee died in old 69 years the July 29th 2000 of a Heart attack in its residence of Bloemfontein.

Nelson Mandela announced its great sadness to the advertisement of this death whereas the vice-president Jacob Zuma insisted on his significant role in the establishment of South Africa multiracial and democratic.

The warship which bore the name of " SAS Kobie Coetsee" " was renamed; SAS Job Maseko" in 1997.

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