Christiaan Willem Smuts

The Honourable Christiaan Willem Smuts 	The Honourable Christiaan Willem Smuts
http://nationsonline.planegate.com/wiki/images/5/59/South_Africa_PM.PNG	http://nationsonline.planegate.com/wiki/images/5/59/South_Africa_PM.PNG
 	
Prime Minister of the Republic of South Africa 	Prime Minister of the Republic of South Africa
In officeSeptember 19, 2004 — August 4, 2007 	In officeSeptember 19, 2004 — August 4, 2007
Political party 	United Party
Preceded by 	Thabo Mbeki
Succeeded by 	Festus Mogae
 	
Born 	April 3, 1956Port Elizabeth, Cape Province, South Africa
Spouse 	Elisabeth Smuts
Profession 	Politician, lawyer, university professor
Religion 	Dutch Reformed
Languages 	Afrikaans, Dutch, English, French
The Honourable Christiaan Willem Smuts (b. April 3, 1956) was the Prime Minister of the Republic of South Africa from September 19, 2004 through August 4, 2007. He is the leader of the United Party and currently serves as the Leader of the Opposition.
==Early life==
Smuts's father, Pieter, was reportedly a distant cousin of the famous South African statesman Jan Smuts (though no concrete evidence exists to support this, and most historians believe it to be false). His mother, Kim, was a Dutch nurse who emigrated to South Africa in her late teens. Pieter was a career military officer who fought with distinction and courage during the Second World War and returned from that conflict with a resolutely anti-racist outlook, having witnessed firsthand the barbarity of the National Socialist regime. As such, Pieter was vocal in his support of the liberal/progressive wing of the ruling United Party, particularly men such as Jan Hofmeyr, with whom he became casual friends.
His father and mother met in 1948 and married on June 6, 1950; six years later, Christiaan was born. He was an only child.
to be continued
Smuts, Christiaan Willem