Roelf Meyer
Encyclopedia
Roelof Petrus Meyer, born in Port Elizabeth on 16 July 1947 as the son of a farmer, is a South Africa
n politician and businessman.
After completing school in Ficksburg, he studied law at the University of the Free State
and finished with B Comm
(1968) and LLB (1971) degrees. At the university, he was president of the conservative "Afrikaanse Studentebond". Meyer then practised as a lawyer in Pretoria and Johannesburg until 1980.
in the Johannesburg
West Constituency. In 1986 he became Deputy Minister of Law and Order and in 1988 of Constitutional Development (until 1991). With the declaration of the first State of Emergency in 1985, the National Joint Management Centre (NJMC), chaired by the Deputy Minister of Law and Order, took over as the nerve centre for co-ordination of all welfare and security policies.
In 1991, F. W. De Klerk appointed him as Minister of Defence as successor of Magnus Malan
. Allegedly, the verligte Nat ("liberal" or "enlightened" NP politician) couldn't win the respect of the generals in this position. In May 1992, after nine months in office, he resigned and became Minister of Constitutional Affairs and of Communication as successor of Gerrit Viljoen
. It was this position which brought him into the negotiating process.
’s chief negotiator, Cyril Ramaphosa
. In this role he worked closely with Niel Barnard, who was head of the National Intelligence Service and a strong supporter of a negotiated settlement. After the conclusion of the negotiations in November 1993, he became the government's chief representative in the Transitional Executive Council (TEC).
After the free elections
in April 1994, Meyer became Minister of Constitutional Development and Provincial Affairs in the government of national unity of the new President, Nelson Mandela
. His elder brother Anthon "Tobie" Meyer was Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Land Affairs in this government. He worked once more with Cyril Ramaphosa, who was chairperson of the Constitutional Assembly.
Meyer resigned from the cabinet in 1996 and became secretary-general of the NP. Soon afterwards, after the new constitution
was negotiated and ratified, the National Party
withdrew from the government. In this phase, he tried to bring about a reorientation of his party but failed on the resistance of the conservative wing around Hernus Kriel
. Meyer eventually resigned as secretary-general, as Gauteng
party leader and from membership of the NP in 1997. As a consequence, he had to retire also as a Member of Parliament.
, the co-founder of the United Democratic Movement (UDM). In the elections of 1999
the UDM received fourteen seats in Parliament and Meyer served as the Deputy President of the party until his retirement from politics in 2000.
In 2006 he announced that he would join the ANC
.
. He also held a number of international positions, including a membership of the Strategy Committee of the Project on Justice in Times of Transition at [Tufts University]] in the USA. He also became the Chairman of the Civil Society Initiative (CSI) of South Africa.
Meyer also uses his experience to act as a consultant on peace processes and negotiations, for example in Northern Ireland
, Rwanda
and Kosovo
.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n politician and businessman.
After completing school in Ficksburg, he studied law at the University of the Free State
University of the Free State
The University of the Free State is situated in Bloemfontein, the capital of the Free State, South Africa. The university also has a satellite campus in Qwaqwa that was, until 2003, part of the University of the North.-Academic Divisions:...
and finished with B Comm
Bachelor of Commerce
A Bachelor of Commerce is an undergraduate degree in commerce and related subjects. The degree is also known as the Bachelor of Commerce and Administration, or BCA...
(1968) and LLB (1971) degrees. At the university, he was president of the conservative "Afrikaanse Studentebond". Meyer then practised as a lawyer in Pretoria and Johannesburg until 1980.
Entering politics
In 1979 he entered politics as he was elected a Member of Parliament for the National PartyNational 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...
in the Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
West Constituency. In 1986 he became Deputy Minister of Law and Order and in 1988 of Constitutional Development (until 1991). With the declaration of the first State of Emergency in 1985, the National Joint Management Centre (NJMC), chaired by the Deputy Minister of Law and Order, took over as the nerve centre for co-ordination of all welfare and security policies.
In 1991, F. W. De Klerk appointed him as Minister of Defence as successor of Magnus Malan
Magnus Malan
General Magnus André De Merindol Malan was the Minister of Defence , Chief of the South African Defence Force and Chief of the South African Army.-Early life:...
. Allegedly, the verligte Nat ("liberal" or "enlightened" NP politician) couldn't win the respect of the generals in this position. In May 1992, after nine months in office, he resigned and became Minister of Constitutional Affairs and of Communication as successor of Gerrit Viljoen
Gerrit Viljoen
Gerrit Van Niekerk Viljoen was a South African government minister and member of the National Party....
. It was this position which brought him into the negotiating process.
Towards a new South Africa
Meyer became famous in his position as the government’s chief negotiator in the Multiparty Negotiating Forum 1993 after the failure of CODESA where he established an amicable and effective relationship with the ANCAfrican 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...
’s chief negotiator, Cyril Ramaphosa
Cyril Ramaphosa
Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa is a South African lawyer, trade union leader, activist, politician and businessman. He was born in Soweto, Gauteng province...
. In this role he worked closely with Niel Barnard, who was head of the National Intelligence Service and a strong supporter of a negotiated settlement. After the conclusion of the negotiations in November 1993, he became the government's chief representative in the Transitional Executive Council (TEC).
After the free elections
South African general election, 1994
The South African general election of 1994 was an election held in South Africa to mark the end of apartheid, therefore also the first held with universal adult suffrage. The election was conducted under the direction of the Independent Electoral Commission .Millions queued in lines over a three...
in April 1994, Meyer became Minister of Constitutional Development and Provincial Affairs in the government of national unity of the new President, Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
. His elder brother Anthon "Tobie" Meyer was Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Land Affairs in this government. He worked once more with Cyril Ramaphosa, who was chairperson of the Constitutional Assembly.
Meyer resigned from the cabinet in 1996 and became secretary-general of the NP. Soon afterwards, after the new constitution
Constitution of South Africa
The Constitution of South Africa is the supreme law of the country of South Africa. It provides the legal foundation for the existence of the republic, sets out the rights and duties of its citizens, and defines the structure of the government. The current constitution, the country's fifth, was...
was negotiated and ratified, the National 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...
withdrew from the government. In this phase, he tried to bring about a reorientation of his party but failed on the resistance of the conservative wing around Hernus Kriel
Hernus Kriel
Hernus Kriel was the first Premier of the Western Cape province. He previously served as the Minister of Law and Order in the South African government under Frederik Willem de Klerk....
. Meyer eventually resigned as secretary-general, as Gauteng
Gauteng
Gauteng is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. It was formed from part of the old Transvaal Province after South Africa's first all-race elections on 27 April 1994...
party leader and from membership of the NP in 1997. As a consequence, he had to retire also as a Member of Parliament.
United Democratic Movement
After he left the National Party, he became, with former Transkeian leader Bantu HolomisaBantu 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...
, the co-founder of the United Democratic Movement (UDM). In the elections of 1999
South African general election, 1999
South Africa's second non-racial general election, held on 2 June 1999 was won by the African National Congress , who increased their number of seats by 14. Notable was the sharp decline of the New National Party, previously the National Party , who without former president F.W. de Klerk lost more...
the UDM received fourteen seats in Parliament and Meyer served as the Deputy President of the party until his retirement from politics in 2000.
In 2006 he announced that he would join the ANC
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...
.
After politics
In 2000 Meyer also involved himself in corporate business. He became a Director and later Deputy Executive Chairman of Tilca Infrastructure Corporation (Pty) Ltd. and currently he is a member of the board of directors of ArmscorArmscor (South Africa)
Armscor , the Armaments Corporation of South Africa is a South African government-supported weapon-producing conglomerate that was officially established in 1968, primarily as a response to the international sanctions by the United Nations against South Africa that began in 1963 and...
. He also held a number of international positions, including a membership of the Strategy Committee of the Project on Justice in Times of Transition at [Tufts University]] in the USA. He also became the Chairman of the Civil Society Initiative (CSI) of South Africa.
Meyer also uses his experience to act as a consultant on peace processes and negotiations, for example in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
and Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
.
See also
- Negotiations to end apartheid in South Africa
- History of South AfricaHistory of South AfricaSouth African history has been dominated by the interaction and conflict of several diverse ethnic groups. The aboriginal Khoisan people have lived in the region for millennia. Most of the population, however, trace their history to immigration since...