The Presidential Years

Politician and maize farmer. Served as minister of education in the cabinet of P. W. Botha, 1979–82. One of the more conservative members of the National Party, he left the ruling party in 1982 to establish the Conservative Party (CP). Served under Andries Treurnicht as the deputy leader of the party, then led the party after Treurnicht’s death in 1993. The CP boycotted the 1994 elections in South Africa. Was the second and last leader of the CP when it merged with the Freedom Front and the Afrikaner Unity Party in 2004 to form the Freedom Front Plus. Retired from politics after the merger.