T.E. Donges
| Theophilus Ebenhaezer Dönges | |
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T.E. Dönges in 1948
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Prime Minister of South Africa Acting as Senior Cabinet Minister |
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In office 6 September 1966 – 13 September 1966 |
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| President | Charles Swart |
| Preceded by | Hendrik Verwoerd |
| Succeeded by | Balthazar Johannes Vorster |
| 13th Minister of Finance | |
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In office 20 October 1958 – 24 February 1967 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II (1958–1961) |
| President | Charles Swart (1961–1967) |
| Prime Minister |
Hendrik Verwoerd Balthazar Johannes Vorster |
| Preceded by | Jozua François Naudé |
| Succeeded by | Nicolaas Johannes Diederichs |
| 12th Minister of the Interior | |
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In office 4 June 1948 – 20 October 1958 |
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| Monarch |
George VI Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister |
Daniel Malan Johannes Strijdom Hendrik Verwoerd |
| Preceded by | Harry Gordon Lawrence |
| Succeeded by | Jozua François Naudé |
| Member of the House of Assembly for Worcester | |
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In office 1941 – 28 February 1967 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 March 1898 Klerksdorp South African Republic |
| Died | 10 January 1968 (aged 69) Cape Town, Cape Province South Africa |
| Nationality | South African |
| Political party | National Party |
| Spouse(s) | Johanna Schoeman (1904-1993) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Stellenbosch |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Cabinet | 1948–1967 |
| Religion | Dutch Reformed Church |
Theophilus Ebenhaezer ('Eben') Dönges (8 March 1898 – 10 January 1968) was a South African politician who was elected State President of South Africa, but died before he could take office, aged 69.
Eben Donges was born on 8 March 1898 in the town of Klerksdorp. He attended Stellenbosch University and received a law degree from University of London. When he returned from London, he became active in the National Party and joined its mouthpiece Die Burger as a journalist. He left journalism in 1927 and practiced law.
Running for parliament, he was unsuccessful in his first attempt in 1938 before obtaining a seat in 1941. He became a National Party cabinet member in 1948 serving as Minister of Post and Telegraphs. Dr Dönges was a senior member of the National Party which ruled South Africa from 1948 to 1994. As Minister of the Interior, from 1948 to 1961, he was one of the so-called "architects" of apartheid, introducing race-based population registration, and removing Coloured voters from the common voters' roll as a prelude to disenfranchising them altogether. During his tenure as Minister of the Interior, Dönges believed that apartheid would continue only for the next two generations. In November 1953, after DF Malan resigned as Cape Provincial leader, Dönges defeated Eric Louw to become the new provincial leader. He was Minister of Finance from 1958 to 1966. After the assassination of Prime Minister Verwoerd, Dönges became acting Prime Minister on 6 September 1966 until a National Party congress named B. J. Vorster to succeed to the Premiership.
Dönges was elected State President to succeed C.R. Swart on his retirement on 1 June 1967, but suffered a stroke and fell into a coma before he could take office. He died on10 January 1968 without regaining consciousness. His deputy Jozua Naudé acted for him until 6 December 1967 when he officially replaced Dönges.
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