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Information About

J.g. Strijdom




He was born on the family farm in Klipfontein . He trained as a lawyer. In 1929 he became the Member Of Parliament for Waterberg .

On 30 November 1954 , he was elected leader of the National Party and became Prime Minister of South Africa . Strijdom's extreme policies resulted in the removal of Coloureds from the common voters roll and the extended 'treason trial' of 156 activists (including Nelson Mandela ) involved in the Freedom Charter .

Strijdom's government also severed diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union .

After a short term in office, he died on 24 August 1958 in Cape Town .

There are still various monuments dedicated to him in South Africa. One monument in central Pretoria , which featured his Bust , collapsed in 2001 injuring 2 people. His house in Nylstroom (now Modimolle ) is now a museum.