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 It is the product of almost two decades of research and includes analyses, chronologies, historical documents, and interviews from the apartheid and post-apartheid eras.

Treurnicht, Andries Petrus

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Andries Treurnicht was born in Piketberg on 19 February 1921. He matriculated from Piketberg High School in 1938. In 1939 Treurnicht began his studies leading to a BA and MA at the University of Stellenbosch. He was a member of the Students' Representative Council, chairman of the Students' Christian Association (SCA) and chairman of Polumnia, an association for theological students.

In 1946 he became travelling secretary of the SCA and was appointed minister of the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) in Oudtshoorn.

In 1960 he became editor of the DRC weekly newspaper, Die Kerkbode In 1976 Prime Minister B J Vorster invited Treurnicht to become editor of the new Pretoria daily, Hoofstad.

In 1971 Treurnicht won the Waterberg seat in a by-election. He was chairman of the Broederbond in the early 1970s. In 1976 Treurnicht became Deputy Minister of Bantu Administration and Education. In 1979 he was appointed Minister of Public Works and Tourism and the following year became Minister of State Administration. Treurnicht continued to put forward views contrary to aspects of NP policy. In 1978 he indicated that he did not support a mixed parliament or cabinet. The clash of ideologies in the NP again arose early in 1982. Later that year he resigned from the cabinet.

The new Conservative Party (CP) was established on 20 March 1982, with Treurnicht as leader. In 1983 he was re-elected to parliament but now as the CP Member for Waterberg. Since the CP was formed, Treurnicht criticised the government, claiming his party represented the true nationalists. In 1988 Treurnicht outlined his party's policy on separate national areas.

After the 1987 elections, Dr Treurnicht earned the nickname "Dr No" when he said 'No' to everything the government suggested.

Despite protests to the negotiation process and opposition to the country's first democratic elections in 1994, support for right-wing Conservative Party collapsed during the local elections on 1 November 1995.

Dr Treurnicht died in 1993.93.

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