Johannes Gerhardus Strijdom facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Johannes Gerhardus Strijdom
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| 6th Prime Minister of South Africa | |
| In office 30 November 1954 – 24 August 1958 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Preceded by | Daniel Francois Malan |
| Succeeded by | Hendrik Verwoerd |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 July 1893 Klipfontein, Cape Colony |
| Died | 24 August 1958 (aged 65) Cape Town, Cape Province, Union of South Africa |
| Political party | National Party |
Johannes Gerhardus Strijdom (also spelled Strydom), known as J.G. Strydom or Hans Strydom, was a very important political leader in South Africa. He was the country's Prime Minister from November 30, 1954, until August 24, 1958. People sometimes called him the Lion of the North. Strijdom was an Afrikaner nationalist. He was a strong supporter of a system called apartheid.
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Early Life and Education
Johannes Gerhardus Strijdom was born on July 14, 1893. His birthplace was a farm called Klipfontein in the Cape Colony. This area is now part of South Africa.
He went to school and later studied at Victoria College. This college is now known as Stellenbosch University. After that, he studied law at the University of Pretoria. He became a lawyer, which means he worked with legal matters.
Becoming a Politician
Strijdom was very interested in politics from a young age. He joined the National Party. This party mainly represented the interests of the Afrikaner people.
He was elected to the South African Parliament in 1929. He represented a part of the country called Waterberg. He stayed a Member of Parliament for this area for many years.
Leading the Country: Prime Minister
In 1954, J.G. Strijdom became the Prime Minister of South Africa. He took over from Daniel Francois Malan. As Prime Minister, Strijdom continued the policies of the National Party.
His time as leader was important for South Africa. He focused on strengthening the idea of Afrikaner nationalism. He also continued to put the system of apartheid into practice.
Understanding Apartheid
Apartheid was a system of laws in South Africa. These laws separated people based on their race. It meant that different racial groups had different rights. White people had more rights and opportunities than Black, Coloured, and Indian people.
The word "apartheid" means "apartness" in the Afrikaans language. This system controlled where people could live and work. It also decided what schools they could attend. Apartheid caused a lot of unfairness and hardship for many people.
J.G. Strijdom was a strong supporter of these laws. He believed they were necessary for South Africa. He worked to make sure these separation policies were followed strictly.
Later Life and Legacy
Strijdom served as Prime Minister for almost four years. He passed away on August 24, 1958, in Cape Town. He was still in office when he died.
His time as Prime Minister is remembered for his strong support of apartheid. This system was later ended in South Africa. Today, apartheid is widely seen as a very unfair and harmful system.
Images for kids
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Strijdom in the 1950s.
See also
- Apartheid
- Prime Minister of South Africa
- National Party (South Africa)
- In Spanish: Johannes Gerhardus Strijdom para niños
