Johannes Gerhardus Strijdom (also spelled Strydom in accordance with Afrikaans spelling; 14 July 1893 – 24 August 1958
), also known as Hans Strijdom and nicknamed the Lion of the North or the Lion of Waterberg,
was the fifth
prime minister of South Africa
The prime minister of South Africa ( af, Eerste Minister van Suid-Afrika) was the head of government in South Africa between 1910 and 1984.
History of the office
The position of Prime Minister was established in 1910, when the Union of Sout ...
from 30 November 1954 to his death on 24 August 1958.
He was an uncompromising
Afrikaner
Afrikaners () are a South African ethnic group descended from predominantly Dutch settlers first arriving at the Cape of Good Hope in the 17th and 18th centuries.Entry: Cape Colony. ''Encyclopædia Britannica Volume 4 Part 2: Brain to Cas ...
nationalist
and a member of the largest, ''
baasskap
''Baasskap'' () (also spelled ''baaskap''), literally "boss-ship" or "boss-hood", is an Afrikaans term that was used during apartheid to describe the social, political and economic domination of South Africa by its minority white population gene ...
'' (
white supremacist
White supremacy or white supremacism is the belief that white people are superior to those of other races and thus should dominate them. The belief favors the maintenance and defense of any power and privilege held by white people. White su ...
) faction of the
National Party (NP),
who further accentuated the NP's
apartheid
Apartheid (, especially South African English: , ; , "aparthood") was a system of institutionalised racial segregation that existed in South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia) from 1948 to the early 1990s. Apartheid was ...
policies and break with the
Union of South Africa
The Union of South Africa ( nl, Unie van Zuid-Afrika; af, Unie van Suid-Afrika; ) was the historical predecessor to the present-day Republic of South Africa. It came into existence on 31 May 1910 with the unification of the Cape, Natal, Tran ...
in favour of a republic during his rule.
Early life
He was born on the family farm Klipfontein near
Willowmore in the
Cape Colony
The Cape Colony ( nl, Kaapkolonie), also known as the Cape of Good Hope, was a British colony in present-day South Africa named after the Cape of Good Hope, which existed from 1795 to 1802, and again from 1806 to 1910, when it united with t ...
and trained as a lawyer at
Victoria College (which later became the
University of Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch University ( af, Universiteit Stellenbosch) is a public research university situated in Stellenbosch, a town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Stellenbosch is the oldest university in South Africa and the oldest extant ...
) and the
University of Pretoria
The University of Pretoria ( af, Universiteit van Pretoria, nso, Yunibesithi ya Pretoria) is a multi-campus public university, public research university in Pretoria, the administrative and de facto capital of South Africa. The university was ...
.
His father Petrus Strijdom was a very well-known farmer and innovator in the Baviaanskloof where Strijdom was born. He owned three farms in the kloof of which the main farm was Sandvlakte on which the local school, church and shop was sited. He owned businesses and shops right down to the Gamtoos valley (birthplace of the well-known Khoi woman
Saartjie Baartman
Sarah Baartman (; 1789– 29 December 1815), also spelt Sara, sometimes in the diminutive form Saartje (), or Saartjie, and Bartman, Bartmann, was a Khoikhoi woman who was exhibited as a freak show attraction in 19th-century Europe under the n ...
). He also sold baboon fur and manufactured shoes and soap amongst other products.
Strijdom served in the German South West Africa campaign during
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...
, as a member of the
South African Medical Corps and, later, of Helgaardt's Scouts, where he reached the rank of corporal.
[Von Zeil, G. 'A South African Prime Minister's Medal' in ''Journal of the Military Medal Society of South Africa'' No 42 (August 2003).]
Strijdom later settled in
Nylstroom
Modimolle, also known as Nylstroom, is a town located near the southern edge of the Waterberg Massif in Limpopo province, South Africa. It is a medium-sized town that focuses primarily on agriculture and farming (citrus, grapes and cattle) as well ...
,
Transvaal. He identified strongly with this area and its people and became a local community leader amongst the
Afrikaner
Afrikaners () are a South African ethnic group descended from predominantly Dutch settlers first arriving at the Cape of Good Hope in the 17th and 18th centuries.Entry: Cape Colony. ''Encyclopædia Britannica Volume 4 Part 2: Brain to Cas ...
s. In 1929, Strijdom was elected to the
House of Assembly
House of Assembly is a name given to the legislature or lower house of a bicameral parliament. In some countries this may be at a subnational level.
Historically, in British Crown colonies as the colony gained more internal responsible gover ...
as MP for
Waterberg, representing the
National Party (NP) headed by General
J.B.M. Hertzog
General James Barry Munnik Hertzog (3 April 1866 – 21 November 1942), better known as Barry Hertzog or J. B. M. Hertzog, was a South African politician and soldier. He was a Boer general during the Second Boer War who serv ...
. Strijdom was also leader of the NP in Transvaal, by far the most important province of South Africa, and as such had a strong power base.
After the National Party of
J.B.M. Hertzog
General James Barry Munnik Hertzog (3 April 1866 – 21 November 1942), better known as Barry Hertzog or J. B. M. Hertzog, was a South African politician and soldier. He was a Boer general during the Second Boer War who serv ...
[
] merged with the
South African Party
nl, Zuidafrikaanse Partij
, leader1_title = Leader (s)
, leader1_name = Louis Botha,Jan Smuts,Barry Hertzog
, foundation =
, dissolution =
, merger = Het Volk South African Party Afrikaner Bond Orangia Unie
, merged ...
of General
Jan Smuts
Field Marshal Jan Christian Smuts, (24 May 1870 11 September 1950) was a South African statesman, military leader and philosopher. In addition to holding various military and cabinet posts, he served as Prime Minister of South Africa, prime m ...
and formed the
United Party (UP) during the World Economic Crisis in 1932,
Strijdom was part of the break-away faction of the National Party,
named the ''Gesuiwerde Nasionale Party'' (
Purified National Party
The Purified National Party ( af, Gesuiwerde Nasionale Party) was a break away from Hertzog's National Party which lasted from 1935 to 1948
In 1935 the main portion of the National Party, led by J. B. M. Hertzog, merged with the South African ...
).
[
] Later, after the United Party was formed, the GNP became known as the (Reunited) National Party
under the leadership of
D. F. Malan. Malan, Strijdom and their followers distrusted Smuts and opposed his pro-British policy.
[
] Most of the National Party's MPs stayed with Hertzog, and as Strijdom was loyal to Malan, he was the only MP from
Transvaal to support Malan's ideals.
Strijdom favoured the establishment of a republic,
allegedly with himself as the first
President of South Africa
The president of South Africa is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of South Africa. The president heads the executive branch of the Government of South Africa and is the commander-in-chief of the South African Nation ...
, but due to political controversy this step was not achieved until 1961, after his death, and then only with Governor-General
Charles Swart assuming the position of symbolic State President over a Westminster system, as opposed to the executive presidency of the
Boer Republics.
Apartheid era
After the surprising
victory of the National Party in 1948, won on a programme of implementing apartheid involving strict
ethnic segregation
Racial segregation is the systematic separation of people into racial or other ethnic groups in daily life. Racial segregation can amount to the international crime of apartheid and a crime against humanity under the Statute of the Intern ...
and
White minority rule
In political science, minoritarianism (or minorityism) is a neologism for a political structure or process in which a minority segment of a population has a certain degree of primacy in that entity's decision making. Minoritarianism may be contr ...
, Malan became
Prime Minister of South Africa
The prime minister of South Africa ( af, Eerste Minister van Suid-Afrika) was the head of government in South Africa between 1910 and 1984.
History of the office
The position of Prime Minister was established in 1910, when the Union of Sout ...
and Strijdom became Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation. Although it was not one of the classic portfolios, it was apparently Strijdom's choice since he had a keen interest in agriculture and was a part-time farmer. Strijdom was not so pleased with the portfolio, although he was fond of farming. Malan gave him the portfolio because his young wife disliked Strijdom. Malan tried his best to ensure the more moderate
Nicolaas Havenga
Nicolaas Christiaan Havenga (1 May 1882 – 14 March 1957) was a South African politician who served as Finance Minister in the governments of J. B. M. Hertzog and Daniel François Malan.
Relationship with Hertzog
Havenga's family suffered ...
succeeded him as Prime Minister, rather than Strijdom.
Prime Minister
On 30 November 1954, Strijdom was elected leader of the
National Party and thus the
Prime Minister of South Africa
The prime minister of South Africa ( af, Eerste Minister van Suid-Afrika) was the head of government in South Africa between 1910 and 1984.
History of the office
The position of Prime Minister was established in 1910, when the Union of Sout ...
after the resignation of Malan and against the latter's will; Malan had preferred the more moderate Havenga, Minister of Finance, as his successor. However, Strijdom was popular among NP party members and people trusted him to push things smoothly forward towards a republic, something Malan was considered to be only lukewarm about as it would enrage the United Kingdom and jeopardise South Africa's international standing. During Strijdom's term as Prime Minister, he began moves to sever ties with the
British monarchy
The monarchy of the United Kingdom, commonly referred to as the British monarchy, is the constitutional form of government by which a hereditary sovereign reigns as the head of state of the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies (the Bailiw ...
,
[South African Republicanism](_blank)
Reuters
Reuters ( ) is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters Corporation. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide. Reuters is one of the largest news agencies in the world.
The agency was est ...
, ''Toledo Blade
''The Blade'', also known as the ''Toledo Blade'', is a newspaper in Toledo, Ohio published daily online and printed Thursday and Sunday by Block Communications. The newspaper was first published on December 19, 1835.
Overview
The first issue o ...
'', 30 January 1958 and deepened the Afrikaner ascendency in South Africa, while strengthening the policy of
apartheid
Apartheid (, especially South African English: , ; , "aparthood") was a system of institutionalised racial segregation that existed in South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia) from 1948 to the early 1990s. Apartheid was ...
, including through the
Group Areas Development Act.
With regard to racial policies, he believed strongly in the perpetuation of
White minority and thus Afrikaner rule through the removal of
Cape Coloured
Cape Coloureds () are a South African ethnic group consisted primarily of persons of mixed race and Khoisan descent. Although Coloureds form a minority group within South Africa, they are the predominant population group in the Western Cape.
...
voters
from the common voters roll
and put on a separate Coloured voters roll electing separate (White) representatives, which Malan initiated but could not push through, and
was only accomplished in 1960, under Strijdom's successor. Strijdom was an open proponent
of crude ''
baaskap'' (
white supremacy
White supremacy or white supremacism is the belief that white people are superior to those of other races and thus should dominate them. The belief favors the maintenance and defense of any power and privilege held by white people. White s ...
or white domination).
The extended
Treason Trial of 156 activists (including
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (; ; 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African anti-apartheid activist who served as the first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the country's first black head of state and the ...
) involved in the
Freedom Charter
The Freedom Charter was the statement of core principles of the South African Congress Alliance, which consisted of the African National Congress (ANC) and its allies: the South African Indian Congress, the South African Congress of Democra ...
, happened during Strijdom's term in office. He also managed to further extend the NP's parliamentary seats during the general election in 1958. Strijdom's government also severed diplomatic relations with the
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...
. The
Suez Crisis
The Suez Crisis, or the Second Arab–Israeli war, also called the Tripartite Aggression ( ar, العدوان الثلاثي, Al-ʿUdwān aṯ-Ṯulāṯiyy) in the Arab world and the Sinai War in Israel,Also known as the Suez War or 1956 Wa ...
gave a geopolitical victory, as severance of the passage through the war-ridden strait of Suez made Western oil transports dependent upon the
Cape of Good Hope
The Cape of Good Hope ( af, Kaap die Goeie Hoop ) ;''Kaap'' in isolation: pt, Cabo da Boa Esperança is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula in South Africa.
A common misconception is that the Cape of Good Hope is ...
and thus the goodwill of the
South African Navy, making the question of the regime's survival more precarious.
During his last year in office, Strijdom's weak health (possibly a case of
cancer
Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal bl ...
) led to long terms of absence. He died on 24 August 1958 in
Cape Town
Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second larges ...
and succeeded by
Hendrik Verwoerd
Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd (; 8 September 1901 – 6 September 1966) was a South African politician, a scholar of applied psychology and sociology, and chief editor of ''Die Transvaler'' newspaper. He is commonly regarded as the architect ...
as head of the NP, securing the radical faction's prevalence towards a complete
break with Britain and
abolition of the Union in 1961. Strijdom is interred in Pretoria in the Heroes' Acre.
Personal life

Strijdom was nicknamed "The Lion of the North", because of his aggression and forthrightness.
Strijdom married the actress
Margaretha van Hulsteyn in 1924, but they divorced within a year.
[and About: Memoirs of a South African Newspaperman''](_blank)
Michael Green, New Africa Books, 2004, pages 30-31 His second wife was
Susan de Klerk, aunt of future President
F W de Klerk. She bore Strijdom two children: Johannes and Estelle. His widow Susan died in 1999 and daughter Estelle (Crowson), in 2009.
Legacy
There are still various monuments dedicated to Strijdom in South Africa. One monument in central
Pretoria
Pretoria () is South Africa's administrative capital, serving as the seat of the executive branch of government, and as the host to all foreign embassies to South Africa.
Pretoria straddles the Apies River and extends eastward into the foot ...
, which featured his
bust, collapsed in 2001 injuring two people.
In 2012, the city of
Pretoria
Pretoria () is South Africa's administrative capital, serving as the seat of the executive branch of government, and as the host to all foreign embassies to South Africa.
Pretoria straddles the Apies River and extends eastward into the foot ...
renamed 27 streets, which included renaming a street named after Strijdom to a new name in honor of
Solomon Mahlangu. His house in
Modimolle
Modimolle, also known as Nylstroom, is a town located near the southern edge of the Waterberg Massif in Limpopo province, South Africa. It is a medium-sized town that focuses primarily on agriculture and farming (citrus, grapes and cattle) as well ...
(formerly Nylstroom) is now a museum,
which holds parts of the collapsed bust.
In
Johannesburg
Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu language, Zulu and xh, eGoli ), colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, or "The City of Gold", is the largest city in South Africa, classified as a Megacity#List of megacities, megacity, and is List of urban areas by p ...
, there is a suburb and a street named after Strijdom, although the spelling "Strydom" is also used, though a couple have already been renamed, one being
Malibongwe Drive
Malibongwe Drive, formerly known as Hans Strijdom Drive ( af, Hans Strijdom-rylaan), is a major road that runs through an industrial area in the northwest of Johannesburg, South Africa. It connects Randburg with Northgate and Lanseria Internati ...
. In
Weltevredenpark, a suburb of
Roodepoort
Roodepoort is a town in the Gauteng province of South Africa. Formerly an independent municipality, Roodepoort became part of the Johannesburg municipality in the late 1990s, along with Randburg and Sandton. Johannesburg's most famous botanica ...
, there is a street named JG Strydom Road.
Randburg
Randburg is an area located in the Gauteng province of South Africa. Formerly a separate municipality, its administration devolved to the newly created City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, along with neighbouring Sandton and Roodepoort, ...
also has a business district called
Strijdompark named after him.
The
Hillbrow Tower
The Hillbrow Tower (formerly JG Strijdom Tower) is a tall tower located in the suburb of Hillbrow in Johannesburg, South Africa. At , it has been the tallest structure and tower in Africa for 50 years, and it was also the tallest structure in t ...
in
Johannesburg
Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu language, Zulu and xh, eGoli ), colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, or "The City of Gold", is the largest city in South Africa, classified as a Megacity#List of megacities, megacity, and is List of urban areas by p ...
was officially named the J.G. Strijdom Tower until 1995, when, shortly after the end of
apartheid
Apartheid (, especially South African English: , ; , "aparthood") was a system of institutionalised racial segregation that existed in South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia) from 1948 to the early 1990s. Apartheid was ...
, it was renamed the Telkom Hillbrow Tower.
In
Windhoek
Windhoek (, , ) is the capital and largest city of Namibia. It is located in central Namibia in the Khomas Highland plateau area, at around above sea level, almost exactly at the country's geographical centre. The population of Windhoek in 20 ...
, then in
South West Africa
South West Africa ( af, Suidwes-Afrika; german: Südwestafrika; nl, Zuidwest-Afrika) was a territory under South African administration from 1915 to 1990, after which it became modern-day Namibia. It bordered Angola ( Portuguese colony before ...
, the main airport was named J.G. Strijdom Airport following its opening in 1965. Following the country's independence as
Namibia
Namibia (, ), officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in Southern Africa. Its western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Zambia and Angola to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and e ...
in 1990, it was renamed
Hosea Kutako International Airport.
in Action: Visuality in the Making of an African Nation''
Giorgio Miescher, Lorena Rizzo, Jeremy Silvester
Basler Afrika Bibliographien, 2009, page 133 And next to Hoedspruit there is a tunnel named after him called J.G Strijdom Tunnel next to the village called Leboeng.
References
External links
*
Photograph of J.G. Strijdom with D.F. Malan and P.O. Sauer taken in 1948 (From LIBSpace, the digital repository of Stellenbosch University)
Signed 1951 photograph of D.F Malan, J. G. Strijdom and C. R. Swart
{{DEFAULTSORT:Strijdom, Johannes Gerhardus
1893 births
1958 deaths
People from the Eastern Cape
Afrikaner people
South African people of Dutch descent
Members of the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa (NGK)
National Party (South Africa) politicians
Purified National Party politicians
Herenigde Nasionale Party politicians
Prime Ministers of South Africa
Members of the House of Assembly (South Africa)
Afrikaner nationalists
Apartheid government
Apartheid in South Africa
South African anti-communists
South African military personnel of World War I
University of Pretoria alumni
Foreign ministers of South Africa