About this site

This resource is hosted by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, but was compiled and authored by Padraig O’Malley. It is the product of almost two decades of research and includes analyses, chronologies, historical documents, and interviews from the apartheid and post-apartheid eras.

Coetsee, Kobie

1931 - 2000

Coetsee was born in Ladybrand, Orange Free State. He completed his BA and LLB at the University of OFS in 1954, during which time he served as chairman of the youth branch of the National Party. He was admitted to the Bar as an advocate in Bloemfontein in 1972. He became MP for Bloemfontein West in 1968 and took over leadership of the party in the OFS in 1985.

He was appointed Deputy Minister of Defence and National Security in October 1978 and became Minister of Justice in 1980. Coetsee formed part of the government delegation in the Groote Schuur talks with the ANC in 1990 and he became a key figure in the government's negotiation team at CODESA.

From April 1993 until April 1994 he served as Minister of Justice and of Defence and was elected as President of the Senate.

This resource is hosted by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, but was compiled and authored by Padraig O’Malley. Return to theThis resource is hosted by the site.