Hendrik Verwoerd facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hendrik Verwoerd
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Verwoerd in 1960
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| 6th Prime Minister of South Africa | |
| In office 2 September 1958 – 6 September 1966 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II (until 1961) |
| President | Charles Robberts Swart (from 1961) |
| Preceded by | Hans Strijdom |
| Succeeded by | Theophilus Dönges |
| Minister of Native Affairs | |
| In office 19 October 1950 – 3 September 1958 |
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| Prime Minister | Daniel François Malan Hans Strijdom |
| Preceded by | Ernest George Jansen |
| Succeeded by | Michel D. C. de Wet Nel |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd
8 September 1901 Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Died | 6 September 1966 (aged 64) Cape Town, Cape Province, Republic of South Africa |
| Cause of death | Assassination (stabbing) |
| Resting place | Heroes' Acre, Pretoria |
| Nationality |
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| Political party | National |
| Spouse |
Betsie Schoombie
(m. 1927) |
| Children | 7 |
| Alma mater |
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| Occupation | Professor, politician, newspaper editor |
Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd (8 September 1901 – 6 September 1966) was a South African politician. He was also a scholar who studied how people think and behave, and he was the main editor of the Die Transvaler newspaper.
Verwoerd is often called the "architect of Apartheid". Apartheid was a system in South Africa that separated people based on their race. It gave white people more power and rights than non-white people. Verwoerd played a big part in creating and carrying out these rules. He was the Minister of Native Affairs from 1950 to 1958. Then, he became the Prime Minister from 1958 until he was assassinated in 1966.
Verwoerd was an Afrikaner nationalist. This meant he strongly supported the interests of white South Africans who spoke Afrikaans. He was also a member of a secret group called the Afrikaner Broederbond. This group worked to help Afrikaners. He was the last Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa. In 1961, he announced the creation of the Republic of South Africa. He remained its Prime Minister until his death.
Verwoerd believed that different races should live and develop separately. He called this "good-neighborliness." He thought this would help each group reach its full potential. However, under his rule, non-white people lost many of their rights. His government also strongly stopped anyone who opposed apartheid. Many people were arrested, jailed, or forced to leave the country. Black organizations like the African National Congress (ANC) were banned. Nelson Mandela, who later became president, was imprisoned for life during Verwoerd's time.
Verwoerd's actions led to the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1761. This resolution condemned apartheid. It also caused South Africa to become isolated from other countries. Many countries placed economic sanctions on South Africa. On 6 September 1966, Verwoerd was stabbed and died.
Contents
His Early Life
Hendrik Verwoerd was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in 1901. He was the only South African prime minister born outside the country. His family moved to South Africa in 1903. His father felt sympathy for the Afrikaner people after the Second Boer War.
Verwoerd went to primary school in Wynberg, Cape Town. In 1912, his family moved to Bulawayo, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). There, his father worked for the Dutch Reformed Church. Verwoerd attended Milton High School. He was a very good student and won a special scholarship. He got the best marks in English literature in Rhodesia.
In 1917, his family moved back to South Africa. They settled in Brandfort, Orange Free State. Verwoerd finished his high school exams in 1919. He came in first in the Orange Free State and fifth in the whole country.
Verwoerd then studied at Stellenbosch University. He was known as a brilliant student in social sciences. People said he had a photographic memory. He could speak Afrikaans, Dutch, English, and German very well. He earned his degrees in Sociology, Psychology, and Philosophy. In 1925, he completed his doctorate in Psychology. His long thesis was seen as a major achievement in applied psychology.
After his doctorate, Verwoerd received scholarships to study abroad. He chose to study in Germany in 1926. He researched psychology and sociology at several German universities. His future wife, Betsie Schoombie, joined him there. They got married in Hamburg on 7 January 1927. He later continued his studies in the United Kingdom and the United States. His notes from university showed he believed there were no biological differences between major racial groups.
Starting His Career
Verwoerd and his wife returned to South Africa in 1928. He became a professor at Stellenbosch University. He taught Applied Psychology and Psycho Technique. Six years later, he became a Professor of Sociology and Social Work.
During the Great Depression, Verwoerd helped poor white South Africans. He worked on many welfare projects and committees. This work led him into politics. In 1936, he joined other professors from Stellenbosch University. They protested against German Jews moving to South Africa. These Jews were trying to escape persecution from the Nazis.
In 1937, Verwoerd became the first editor of Die Transvaler newspaper. He also helped to rebuild the National Party in the Transvaal region. Die Transvaler supported Afrikaner nationalism. It also focused on farmers' and workers' rights. The newspaper helped many South Africans feel that changes were needed. When World War II started in 1939, Verwoerd protested South Africa joining the war. South Africa sided with the United Kingdom, its former colonial power.
In 1943, The Star newspaper called Verwoerd a Nazi supporter. Verwoerd sued them. But the judge ruled against him. The judge stated that Verwoerd "did support Nazi propaganda." He said Verwoerd "made his paper a tool of Nazis in South Africa."
Joining the Government
In the 1948 South African general election, the National Party won. They formed a government with another party. This was a very close election. The National Party promised "self-determination" and "apartheid."
Verwoerd was elected to the Senate of South Africa that year. In 1950, he became the Minister of Native Affairs. He served under Prime Minister D. F. Malan. In this role, Verwoerd helped put the National Party's plans into action.
Laws of Apartheid
During Verwoerd's time as Minister of Native Affairs, several important apartheid laws were made. These included:
- The Population Registration Act of 1950: This law classified every person by race.
- The Group Areas Act of 1950: This law forced different racial groups to live in separate areas.
- The Pass Laws Act of 1952: This law made it harder for black South Africans to move around. They needed special passes to be in white areas.
- The Reservation of Separate Amenities Act of 1953: This law allowed public places to be separated by race. These places were often unequal.
Verwoerd also wrote the Bantu Education Act of 1953. This law had a very bad effect on black South Africans' education. Verwoerd himself said that this law was meant to give black people just enough education to work as unskilled laborers. He believed there was "no place for him [the Bantu] in the European community above the level of certain forms of labour." This law made sure black South Africans received a much poorer education. This kept them in low-paying jobs. An anti-apartheid activist, Nomavenda Mathiane, strongly criticized this law. She said it caused generations of black South Africans to suffer.
Becoming Prime Minister
Prime Minister Daniel Malan retired in 1954. After some debate, J. G. Strijdom became the new Prime Minister. Verwoerd became more and more popular with Afrikaner voters.
In the 1958 election, Verwoerd won his area by a huge number of votes. Soon after, Prime Minister Strijdom died. Verwoerd was chosen as one of the candidates to lead the National Party. He received the most votes and became the new Prime Minister of South Africa.
The Architect of Apartheid
Hendrik Verwoerd is often called the "architect of apartheid." This is because he played a key role in making apartheid a strong system. He did this both as Minister of Native Affairs and as Prime Minister. Verwoerd once described apartheid as a "policy of good neighbourliness."
When the National Party came to power in 1948, there were different ideas about how to separate races. Verwoerd believed in "vertical segregation." This meant black and white people would be completely separated. Black people would live in special reserves. They would have their own political and economic systems. Verwoerd's idea was to allow black labor while still aiming for this complete separation.
Verwoerd's plan for South Africa, divided into different ethnic states, appealed to many Afrikaners. It gave a more organized and moral reason for the National Party's racist policies. It also made the policy seem more intellectual. Verwoerd felt that South Africa's political situation had not changed enough. He wanted to make big reforms.
Apartheid Laws Under Verwoerd
As Prime Minister, Verwoerd introduced more laws related to apartheid:
- Promotion of Bantu Self-government Act, 1959: This law created separate "homelands" for black ethnic groups.
- Bantu Investment Corporation Act, 1959: This law aimed to develop businesses in the black homelands.
- Extension of University Education Act, 1959: This law created separate universities for different racial groups.
South Africa Becomes a Republic
One of the National Party's main goals was to make South Africa a republic. This meant removing the British monarch as the head of state. In January 1960, Verwoerd announced a vote (referendum) for white people. This vote would decide if South Africa should become a republic. He wanted it to be a republic within the Commonwealth.
Two weeks later, Harold Macmillan, the British Prime Minister, visited South Africa. He gave his famous "Winds of Change" speech. This speech criticized apartheid. This, along with global criticism after the Sharpeville massacre, made South Africa feel under attack. Verwoerd used this feeling to push for a republic. He said that Elizabeth II, the British Queen, was the ruler of a hostile power.
Verwoerd also made sure South African media showed problems in the Congo after it became independent. He used this to suggest that similar "horrors" would happen in South Africa if apartheid ended. He linked this to British criticism of apartheid. This made many white South Africans feel angry at the British.
To get more support for a republic, the voting age for white people was lowered from 21 to 18. This helped younger Afrikaans speakers, who were more likely to support a republic. White people in South-West Africa (now Namibia) were also allowed to vote. Most of them were German or Afrikaans speakers. This was done even though English South Africans were slightly fewer than Afrikaners. Most English South Africans did not want South Africa to become a republic. They were still loyal to the British Crown.
Leaving the Commonwealth
The vote for a republic was approved by Parliament. In March 1961, Verwoerd went to a meeting in London. He tried to keep South Africa in the Commonwealth as a republic. However, India and Canada proposed a resolution. It stated that racism was not allowed in the Commonwealth. This resolution was accepted. Verwoerd then withdrew South Africa's application to rejoin the Commonwealth. He walked out of the conference.
For many white South Africans, especially those of British background, leaving the Commonwealth felt like being cut off. South Africa had been a member since 1910. The Republic of South Africa officially began on 31 May 1961. This date was chosen to mark the end of the Second Boer War and the creation of the Union of South Africa. Verwoerd, who disliked the British, chose this date as a kind of revenge for the Boer War defeat. The last Governor-General, Charles Robberts Swart, became the first State President.
After South Africa became a republic, Verwoerd refused to accept black ambassadors from other Commonwealth countries. Verwoerd also stopped non-white people from representing South Africa in sports. This led to an international movement to ban South Africa from sports competitions. South Africa's last Olympic Games until apartheid ended was in 1960. They were banned from FIFA in 1976. When South African teams did play, there were often protests.
First Attack on Verwoerd
On 9 April 1960, Verwoerd was at an event in Johannesburg. He was celebrating 50 years of the Union of South Africa. After he gave his speech, a wealthy English businessman named David Pratt shot him twice. This happened very close to Verwoerd.
The attacker was quickly stopped. Verwoerd was rushed to the hospital. His condition became stable, and he was moved to another hospital. He returned to public life on 29 May.
Pratt later said he only wanted to injure Verwoerd, not kill him. He claimed he was shooting "the epitome of apartheid." Doctors said Pratt was not mentally well. So, he could not be held responsible for the shooting. On 26 September 1960, he was sent to a mental hospital. He died there in 1961.
South Africa's Isolation Grows
In 1961, the UN Secretary-General, Dag Hammarskjöld, visited South Africa. He could not agree with Prime Minister Verwoerd. On 6 November 1962, the United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 1761. This resolution strongly condemned South Africa's apartheid policies. On 7 August 1963, the United Nations Security Council asked countries to stop selling weapons to South Africa. A special committee was also set up to fight apartheid.
From 1964, the United States and the United Kingdom stopped selling weapons to South Africa. Economic sanctions were often discussed at the UN. These sanctions were meant to pressure the apartheid government. In 1962, the UN General Assembly asked its members to cut ties with South Africa in politics, money, and transport.
The 1966 Election
The National Party, led by Verwoerd, won the 1966 South African general election. This election greatly increased the party's power. They gained a two-thirds majority in parliament for the first time. During this time, the government continued to build up its military. They developed their own weapons, including aircraft, small arms, and armored vehicles. They also worked on nuclear and biological weapons.
Three days before he died, Verwoerd met with the Prime Minister of Lesotho, Chief Leabua Jonathan. They talked about working together without interfering in each other's countries.
His Assassination
On 6 September 1966, Verwoerd was assassinated in Cape Town. This happened shortly after he entered the House of Assembly at 2:15 PM. A parliamentary messenger named Dimitri Tsafendas stabbed Verwoerd four times. Other members of the Assembly quickly stopped him. Four members of Parliament who were also doctors tried to help Verwoerd. He was rushed to Groote Schuur Hospital but was pronounced dead when he arrived.
Verwoerd's state funeral was held in Pretoria on 10 September 1966. A quarter of a million people attended. His coffin, covered with the South African flag, was carried on a military carriage. He was buried in the Heroes' Acre in Pretoria.
After the assassination, Tsafendas was questioned by the police. He clearly stated that he killed Verwoerd hoping for a "change of policy." He said he "wanted to see a government representing all the South African people." He was "disgusted with the racial policy." Police found evidence that Tsafendas had been involved in political activism for a long time. He had been part of the South African Communist Party. He had also attended anti-colonial and anti-apartheid meetings in London.
However, during his trial, Tsafendas was found to be mentally ill. He avoided the death penalty. The judge ordered him to be imprisoned indefinitely. He died in detention in 1999 at the age of 81.
Verwoerd's Legacy Today
Today, Verwoerd's legacy in South Africa is very controversial. For black South Africans, Verwoerd is seen as a symbol of evil. He represents the white supremacy of apartheid. Most white South Africans now see Verwoerd as an embarrassment. Only a few still praise him. However, in 2004, a public poll voted Verwoerd as one of the top 20 greatest South Africans ever. This was for a TV show called Great South Africans.
Melanie Verwoerd, who was married to Verwoerd's grandson, joined the African National Congress (ANC). She said that having the Verwoerd surname often caused awkward moments in ANC circles. She had to explain her connection to him.
In 1992, Verwoerd's widow, Betsie Verwoerd, moved to Orania. This was a settlement for Afrikaners. In 1995, the first democratically elected president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, visited her there.
On the 50th anniversary of Verwoerd's assassination in 2016, some people in South Africa argued. They said that Tsafendas should be seen as an anti-apartheid hero.
Many roads, places, and buildings in South Africa were named after Verwoerd. After apartheid ended, there was a movement to remove his statues and rename places. For example, H. F. Verwoerd Airport is now Port Elizabeth Airport. The Verwoerd Dam is now the Gariep Dam. The H. F. Verwoerd academic hospital is now Steve Biko Hospital. The town of Verwoerdburg is now Centurion.
Some people warn against blaming all the wrongs of apartheid only on Verwoerd. They say it is too easy to make him the only evil person. Many people were involved in creating and keeping the apartheid system. Blaming only Verwoerd might excuse the actions of everyone else who supported apartheid.
On Coins
Verwoerd is shown on some .800 fine Silver 1 Rand coins from 1967. These coins were made to remember him.
See also
In Spanish: Hendrik Verwoerd para niños
