Hendrik Verwoerd

Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd (8 September 1901 – 6 September 1966) was Prime Minister of South Africa from 1958 to 1966. He was the person chiefly responsible for enforcing apartheid, which was established by Daniel Francois Malan.Beck, Roger B. The History of South Africa Greenwood Press Westport Connecticut 2000 page 213 
He was born in the Netherlands. His parents emigrated to South Africa when he was two years old.Kearney, Paddy Guardian of the Light: Denis Hurley: Renewing the Church, Opposing Apartheid The Continuum International Publishing Group, Inc. New York, New York 2009 page 71 In 1950, Verwoerd became Minister of Native Affairs (native meant the black Africans in the country). He was Prime Minister from 1958 to 1966, when he was assassinated.Mckenna, Amy edited The History of Southern Africa Britannica Educational Publishing 2011 pages 167-168 Verwoerd was associated with the  National Party.

 Biography 
Verwoerd is often called the "Architect of Apartheid" for his major role in the apartheid policy when he was the Minister of Native Affairs and later the Prime Minister. Verwoerd once described apartheid as a "policy of good neighbourliness".

On 9 April 1960, a British-born white farmer named David Pratt firstly attempted to assassinate Verwoerd by shooting him with a .22 pistol as revenge for the Sharpeville massacre (which occurred under Verwoerd's leadership) and Verwoerd's major role in the apartheid policy, but Verwoerd survived his first assassination attempt.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2XpCAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KasMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5546,487559&dq=hendrik+verwoerd+david+pratt&hl=en Middlesboro Daily News April 11, 1960 Farmer Held in Shooting of Verwoerd UPI

In 1960, Verwoerd announced that he planned to hold a referendum in South Africa on whether to remain a Commonwealth realm under the British monarch's rule or become a republic. The South African Parliament (a kind of legislature) voted to present the referendum to the people, and it was held in October. Voters were asked if they wanted to remain under the British monarch's rule, or become a republic. 52% voted to change to a republic.Osada, Masako (2002). Sanctions and honorary whites: diplomatic policies and economic realities in relations between Japan and South Africa. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 54. South Africa became a republic on May 31, 1961.van Dyke, Donald L. Fortune Favors the Bold: An African Aviation Odyssey Xilbris Corporation page 153  2008

The National Party government under Verwoerd continued to develop the military, and it successfully made new developments in arms production including aircraft, small arms, armed vehicles, and even nuclear weapons.Beinart, William (2001). Twentieth-century South Africa. Oxford University Press. p. 177. .

Three days before his death, Verwoerd held talks with the Prime Minister of the Lesotho, one of the native tribes in South Africa, Chief Leabua Jonathan, at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.National University of Lesotho. Institute of Southern African Studies. Documentation and Publications Division (1966). Lesotho clippings. Documentation and Publications Division, Institute of Southern African Studies, National University of Lesotho.  Following the meeting, a joint statement was issued by the two governments with special emphasis on "co-operation without interference in each others' internal affairs".

 Assassination 
On 6 September 1966, Verwoerd was stabbed to death with a knife in Cape Town, shortly after entering the House of Assembly at 2:15 pm. A "mestiço" or "coloured" parliamentary messenger from Portuguese Mozambique named Dimitri Tsafendas pulled out a knife and stabbed Verwoerd in the neck and chest four times before other Assembly members restrained him.Goodman, David; Weinberg, Paul (2002). Fault lines: journeys into the new South Africa. University of California Press. p. 154. Members who were also trained as medical practitioners rushed to aid Verwoerd and started giving cardiopulmonary resuscitation.Havens, Murray Clark; Leiden, Carl; Schmitt, Karl Michael (1970). The politics of assassination. Prentice-Hall. p. 47. Verwoerd was rushed to Groote Schuur Hospital, but was declared dead upon arrival.

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Category:1901 births
Category:1966 deaths
Category:Afrikaner people
Category:People associated with Apartheid
Category:Murders by blade weapons
Category:Politicians from Amsterdam
Category:Prime ministers of South Africa
Category:Anti-communists
Category:Assassinated people