Piet Koornhof
Encyclopedia
Pieter G. J. Koornhof (2 August 1925 – 12 November 2007) was a South African politician. As an apartheid-era National Party
cabinet minister, he held various portfolios in the cabinets of B.J. Vorster
and P.W. Botha, and was later appointed ambassador to the United States. After the end of apartheid, he joined the African National Congress
in 2001.
. He studied theology at the University of Stellenbosch, and completed his studies at Oxford after being awarded a Rhodes Scholarship
. His doctoral dissertation focussed on the "inevitable urbanisation" of black people in Africa.
culture. In 1962, he became secretary of the Afrikaner Broederbond
and in 1964 was elected Member of Parliament for Primrose.
In 1968, he became Deputy Minister of Bantu Affairs and Bantu Education in the government of B.J. Vorster
. In 1972, he became Minister of Energy and in 1973 combined this post with that of Minister of Sports. In this position, he announced the creation of separate sports teams for different races.
As Minister of Energy from 1972 to 1976, and especially as Minister of Cooperation and Development between 1978 and 1984, Koornhof was involved in the implementation of apartheid laws by the forced removal of thousands of blacks from residential areas declared as white.
From 1986 to 1991, he was South Africa's Ambassador to the United States, the last to be a member of the National Party following the appointment of Harry Schwarz
, a prominent leader of the Democratic Party
.
Throughout his career, Koornhof was seen as a moderate, at least compared to others in the apartheid government, and as a warm, larger than life personality with many contradictions.
woman with whom he subsequently had two children.
In the new dispensation that followed non-racial elections in South Africa in 1994, he agreed to testify before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission set up by the new South African government and chaired by the Archbishop of Cape Town
, Desmond Tutu
. He was one of the few former apartheid ministers to acknowledge the atrocities committed under their control during apartheid.
In 1998, Piet Koornhof and his son, Gerhard Koornhof, until then members of the National Party, announced that they were joining a new multiracial party, the United Democratic Movement of Bantu Holomisa
.
In 2001, he joined the African National Congress
.
On several occasions Koornhof's marital problems came to the fore, especially during his 12 year separation from his wife, during which he lived together with his girlfriend. He later returned to his wife.
He died in 2007 at the age of 82 and was cremated in Stellenbosch. He received eulogies from across the political spectrum in South Africa, from his former companions in the National Party, members of the ANC, the United Democratic Movement and the Inkatha Freedom Party
.
National Party (South Africa)
The National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
cabinet minister, he held various portfolios in the cabinets of B.J. Vorster
B.J. Vorster
Balthazar Johannes Vorster , better known as John Vorster, served as the Prime Minister of South Africa from 1966 to 1978 and as the fourth State President of South Africa from 1978 to 1979...
and P.W. Botha, and was later appointed ambassador to the United States. After the end of apartheid, he joined the African National Congress
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
in 2001.
Early life and education
Piet Koornhof was born on 2 August 1925 in Leeudoringstad in the Western TransvaalTransvaal Province
Transvaal Province was a province of the Union of South Africa from 1910 to 1961, and of its successor, the Republic of South Africa, from 1961 until the end of apartheid in 1994 when a new constitution subdivided it.-History:...
. He studied theology at the University of Stellenbosch, and completed his studies at Oxford after being awarded a Rhodes Scholarship
Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as...
. His doctoral dissertation focussed on the "inevitable urbanisation" of black people in Africa.
Political career
After returning to South Africa, he joined the National Party in 1956. He became a researcher for Hendrik Verwoerd, the Prime Minister of South Africa, and was appointed director of the Federasie van Afrikaanse Kultuurvereniginge, an institute for the advancement of AfrikanerAfrikaner
Afrikaners are an ethnic group in Southern Africa descended from almost equal numbers of Dutch, French and German settlers whose native tongue is Afrikaans: a Germanic language which derives primarily from 17th century Dutch, and a variety of other languages.-Related ethno-linguistic groups:The...
culture. In 1962, he became secretary of the Afrikaner Broederbond
Afrikaner Broederbond
The Afrikaner Broederbond or Broederbond was a secret, exclusively male and Afrikaner Calvinist organization in South Africa dedicated to the advancement of Afrikaner interests. It was founded by HJ Klopper, HW van der Merwe, DHC du Plessis and Rev...
and in 1964 was elected Member of Parliament for Primrose.
In 1968, he became Deputy Minister of Bantu Affairs and Bantu Education in the government of B.J. Vorster
B.J. Vorster
Balthazar Johannes Vorster , better known as John Vorster, served as the Prime Minister of South Africa from 1966 to 1978 and as the fourth State President of South Africa from 1978 to 1979...
. In 1972, he became Minister of Energy and in 1973 combined this post with that of Minister of Sports. In this position, he announced the creation of separate sports teams for different races.
As Minister of Energy from 1972 to 1976, and especially as Minister of Cooperation and Development between 1978 and 1984, Koornhof was involved in the implementation of apartheid laws by the forced removal of thousands of blacks from residential areas declared as white.
From 1986 to 1991, he was South Africa's Ambassador to the United States, the last to be a member of the National Party following the appointment of Harry Schwarz
Harry Schwarz
Harry Heinz Schwarz was a South African lawyer, statesman and long-time political opposition leader against apartheid, who eventually served as the South African ambassador to the United States during the country’s transition to representative democracy.Schwarz rose from the childhood poverty he...
, a prominent leader of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (South Africa)
The Democratic Party was the name of the South African political party now called the Democratic Alliance . Although the Democratic Party name dates from 1989, the party existed under other labels throughout the Apartheid years, when it was the Parliamentary opposition to the ruling National...
.
Throughout his career, Koornhof was seen as a moderate, at least compared to others in the apartheid government, and as a warm, larger than life personality with many contradictions.
Life after politics
In 1993, he made the headlines when, at the age of 68, he left his wife for a young colouredColoured
In the South African, Namibian, Zambian, Botswana and Zimbabwean context, the term Coloured refers to an heterogenous ethnic group who possess ancestry from Europe, various Khoisan and Bantu tribes of Southern Africa, West Africa, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaya, India, Mozambique,...
woman with whom he subsequently had two children.
In the new dispensation that followed non-racial elections in South Africa in 1994, he agreed to testify before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission set up by the new South African government and chaired by the Archbishop of Cape Town
Archbishop of Cape Town
The Archbishop of Cape Town is the Primate / Metropolitan of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa.The current Archbishop is the Most Reverend Thabo MakgobaRobert Gray was the first Anglican Bishop of Cape Town.-List of Bishops and Archbishops:...
, Desmond Tutu
Desmond Tutu
Desmond Mpilo Tutu is a South African activist and retired Anglican bishop who rose to worldwide fame during the 1980s as an opponent of apartheid...
. He was one of the few former apartheid ministers to acknowledge the atrocities committed under their control during apartheid.
In 1998, Piet Koornhof and his son, Gerhard Koornhof, until then members of the National Party, announced that they were joining a new multiracial party, the United Democratic Movement of Bantu Holomisa
Bantu Holomisa
Bantubonke Harrington Holomisa is a South African Member of Parliament and President of the United Democratic Movement.Holomisa was born in Mqanduli, Eastern Cape. He joined the Transkei Defence Force in 1976 and had become a Brigadier by 1985...
.
In 2001, he joined the African National Congress
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
.
On several occasions Koornhof's marital problems came to the fore, especially during his 12 year separation from his wife, during which he lived together with his girlfriend. He later returned to his wife.
He died in 2007 at the age of 82 and was cremated in Stellenbosch. He received eulogies from across the political spectrum in South Africa, from his former companions in the National Party, members of the ANC, the United Democratic Movement and the Inkatha Freedom Party
Inkatha Freedom Party
The Inkatha Freedom Party is a political party in South Africa. Since its founding, it has been led by Mangosuthu Buthelezi. It is currently the fourth largest party in the National Assembly of South Africa.-History:...
.