N.C. Havenga
| Nicolaas Havenga | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Minister of Finance of the Union of South Africa | |
|
In office 1929–1934 |
|
| Prime Minister | J. B. M. Hertzog |
| Preceded by | Henry Burton |
| Succeeded by | Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr |
| Finance minister of South Africa | |
|
In office 1948–1954 |
|
| Prime Minister | Daniel François Malan |
| Preceded by | Claud Sturrock |
| Succeeded by | Eric Louw |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 May 1882 |
| Died | 14 March 1957 |
| Nationality | South African |
| Political party |
National Party (until 1934, 1951–) United Party (1934–1941) Afrikaner Party (1941–1951) |
Nicolaas Christiaan Havenga (born 1 May 1882 in Fauresmith, Orange Free State, died 14 March 1957 in Cape Town, South Africa) was a South African politician who served as Finance Minister in the governments of J. B. M. Hertzog and Daniel François Malan.
Havenga's family suffered financial hardship in his youth and as a result he was unable to attend university despite strong performances at school. His relationship with Hertzog began during the Second Boer War, when Havenga served as his private secretary and in this role was wounded several times. Following his war service he returned to study and qualified as a lawyer, whilst also joining the South African Party and representing the group in the Orange Free State provincial council from 1910. He was elected to the national parliament in the 1915 election and, after a period as a defence spokesman, soon became recognised for his financial expertise.
Havenga was a leading member of Hertzog's government and indeed with Oswald Pirow he formed the basis of Hertzog's 'inner cabinet' which controlled decision making. As Finance Minister he was responsible for the decision to take South Africa off the gold standard, one that led to a significant economic upturn. Havenga had formerly been a harsh critic of this move, reflecting populist opinions that gold-producing South Africa should refuse to follow the United Kingdom off the gold standard as a piece of nationalist posturing against the British. In 1932 however rumours had been circulating that Tielman Roos was intending to split from the government over the issue and form a new party that would go into coalition with Jan Smuts, forcing Havenga to abandon his earlier stance to save the government.
A loyal supporter of Hertzog, he defected from the United Party government following its formation and later led the pro-Hertzog Afrikaner Party. Havenga led the party in the 1943 election but all of its candidates, including Havenga himself, were defeated. He had initially suggested an alliance with Malan but his opponent reasoned, correctly as it proved, that he did not need Afrikaner Party support to win the election and so rejected the offer. Havenga was not a member of the House of Assembly at the time of the election as, like Hertzog, he had resigned his seat in the body when Hertzog was rejected as leader. Havenga's 1487 votes in the Frankfurt constituency was the party's best result but it was not enough to see him elected.
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