Johannes Gerhardus Strijdom
| Johannes Gerhardus Strijdom | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 6th Prime Minister of South Africa | |
|
In office 30 November 1954 – 24 August 1958 |
|
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Preceded by | Daniel François Malan |
| Succeeded by | Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
14 July 1893 Klipfontein, Cape Colony |
| Died | 24 August 1958 (aged 65) Cape Town, Cape Province, Union of South Africa |
| Resting place | Heroes' Acre, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa |
| Political party | National Party |
| Spouse(s) | Susan de Klerk |
| Children | Johannes Estelle |
| Alma mater |
Victoria College University of Pretoria |
| Religion | Dutch Reformed |
Johannes Gerhardus Strijdom, (also spelled Strydom) commonly called JG Strydom or Hans Strydom (14 July 1893 – 24 August 1958), nicknamed the Lion of the North, was Prime Minister of South Africa from 30 November 1954 to 24 August 1958. He was an uncompromising Afrikaner nationalist, and a proponent of racial segregation that led the way to the establishment of the system of apartheid.
He was born on the family farm Klipfontein near Willowmore in Cape Colony and trained as a lawyer at Victoria College (which later became the University of Stellenbosch) and the University of Pretoria.
Strijdom served in the German South West Africa campaign in World War I, as a member of the South African Medical Corps and, later, of Helgaardt's Scouts, where he reached the rank of corporal.
Strijdom later settled in Nylstroom, Transvaal. He identified strongly with this area and its people and became a local community leader among the Afrikaners. In 1929, Strijdom was elected to the House of Assembly as MP for Waterberg, representing the National Party (NP) headed by General J.B.M. Hertzog. Strijdom was also leader of the NP in Transvaal, by far the most important province of South Africa, and as such had a strong power base.
After the National Party of J.B.M. Hertzog merged with the South African Party of General Jan Smuts and formed the United Party (UP) during the World Economic Crisis in 1932, Strijdom was part of the break-away faction of the National Party, named the Gesuiwerde Nasionale Party (Purified National Party). Later, after the United Party was formed, the GNP became known as the (Reunited) National Party under the leadership of Dr. D. F. Malan. Malan, Strijdom and their followers distrusted Smuts and opposed his pro-British policy. Most of the National Party's MPs stayed with Hertzog, and as Strijdom was loyal to Malan, he was the only MP from Transvaal to support Malan's ideals.
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