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 It is the product of almost two decades of research and includes analyses, chronologies, historical documents, and interviews from the apartheid and post-apartheid eras.

Soal, Peter George

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Soal was born in Luanshya, Zambia on 17 February 1936.  He was educated at Selborne College, East London.

He is the socio-political consultant for noseweek magazine and for the Goedgedacht Forum. He is a volunteer presenter with Fine Music Radio.

He was chairman of the South African Institute of International Affairs, Western Cape Branch, for the period 2002 - 2003

Soal was appointed by President Nelson Mandela in September 1994 to the Staff of the Mission of SA to the UN where he served as the SA representative on the Third (Human Rights) Committee. He was subsequently appointed as the SA representative on the Fifth (Budgetary) committee.  He was also responsible for leading the Mission's contribution on the Secretary General's reform proposals and acted as Charge d'Affaires from Dec 1997 to Jan 1998.

From December 1998 to September 2000 he was the principal Desk Officer at the South African Department of Foreign Affairs dealing with UN Security Council (SC) matters. The field of activity included SC reform, monitoring of SC debates and resolutions and checking to ensure adherence to SC resolutions on sanctions in particular.

He terminated his contract with Department in September 2000.

Soal's political career is as follows: -

Ø. Elected to Johannesburg City Council: 1981 – 1982

Ø. Elected to the South African Parliament in November 1982 as the Progressive Federal Party (PFP) MP for Johannesburg North.

Ø. Re-elected in 1987 and 1989 with increased majorities.

Ø. Responsibilities included monitoring government's policy of forced removals; activities in the then Bantustans; NGO liaison; Press liaison and the activities of the police in the rural areas.

Ø. Elected as a Parliamentary Whip from 1989 to 1994.

Ø. DP spokesman on Land Affairs, Information and the Media.

Ø. Member of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs

Ø. Johannesburg Campaign Manager for the party in elections of 1988 and 1989

Ø. Elected to the Executive Committee of Liberal International: 1990 –94.

Ø. Member of the Convention for Democratic South Africa (CODESA) and the Multi-party Negotiating Forum, which negotiated the interim constitution which came into effect on April 27, 1994.

And his business career: -

Ø. Accounts Clerk – Union Corporation Limited

Ø. Chief Accountant – Mitchell Cotts Engineering Limited

Ø. Financial Director – Fulmen Africa Limited

Ø. Administrative Manager – Anglo American Corporation Limited

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.