Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd

(1901-1966) Usually referred to as the “chief architect of Apartheid”, the Dutch-born South African politician and ideologue became a professor of psychology and sociology at the University of Stellenbosch (1927-1936), before being appointed editor of the influential Afrikaans newspaper Die Transvaler in 1937, a senator in 1948 and Minister of Native Affairs in 1950. During his term of office most of the fundamental laws of apartheid were introduced, and when he became Prime Minister on the death of J.G. Strydom in 1958, the process continued. In 1960 an attempt was made on his life, and in 1966 he was assassinated in parliament by Dimitri Tsafendas, a messenger.

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