Andries Treurnicht
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Andries Treurnicht MP |
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|---|---|
 |
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| Leader of the Conservative Party | |
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In office 1982 – 22 April 1993 |
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| Minister of State Administration and Statistics | |
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In office 1980–1982 |
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| Succeeded by | Ferdinand Hartzenberg |
| Minister of Public Works, Statistics and Tourism | |
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In office 1979–1980 |
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| Leader of National Party in Transvaal | |
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In office 1978–1982 |
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| Deputy Minister of Plural Relations and Development | |
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In office 1978–1979 |
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| Deputy Minister of Education and Training | |
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In office 1978–1979 |
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| MP | |
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In office 1971–1993 |
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| Constituency | Waterberg |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
19 February 1921 Piketberg, Cape Province |
| Died | 22 April 1993 (aged 72) Cape Town, Cape Province, Republic of South Africa |
| Political party | Conservative Party |
| Other political affiliations |
National Party (1971 - 1982) |
| Spouse(s) | Engela Deyer |
| Children | 4 daughters |
| Religion | Dutch Reformed |
Andries Petrus Treurnicht (19 February 1921 – 22 April 1993) was a South African politician, Minister of Education during the Soweto Riots and for a short time leader of the National Party in Transvaal. In 1982 he founded and led the Conservative Party of South Africa whose successes among the white electorate made him Leader of the Opposition in 1987, a position he retained until his death.
He was born in Piketberg (Cape Province) and began his working life as a journalist, being editor of Die Kerkbode and Hoofstad. He was a keen sportsman, excelling on the rugby field, playing provincial rugby against the All Blacks in 1949. After obtaining his MA in Theology at the University of Stellenbosch, he completed a Doctorate in Political Philosophy at the University of Cape Town. He subsequently entered the Dutch Reformed Church (NG Kerk), serving various congregations as minister for 14 years. He was elected Deputy Chairman of the Cape Synod and later of the General Synod. He married Engela Dreyer on 18 January 1949.
In 1971, he became the National Party MP for Waterberg. Newly appointed as Deputy Minister of Education in 1976, his instruction to implement the policy that black students should be taught half in English, half in Afrikaans triggered the Soweto Riots. In 1978, he was chosen, over the heads of 12 ministers, as Leader of the National Party in the Transvaal, and, in 1979, he became Minister of State for Administration and of Statistics.
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