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Verwoerd: The Architect of Apartheid

Gary Reed

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Published in Verwoerd: Architect Of Apartheid Basil Mahon

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**By Basil Mahon**

Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd, the Prime Minister of South Africa from 1958 to 1966, was one of the most controversial figures in the history of apartheid. He was the architect of the system of racial segregation that became known as apartheid, and he was responsible for some of the most repressive policies of the apartheid era.

Verwoerd: Architect of Apartheid

by Basil Mahon

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Language	:	English
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Verwoerd was born in the Netherlands in 1901. He emigrated to South Africa in 1928 and quickly became involved in politics. He joined the National Party, and in 1948 he was elected to Parliament. In 1958, he became Prime Minister.

Verwoerd's government introduced a number of apartheid laws, including the Population Registration Act, the Group Areas Act, and the Bantu Education Act. These laws segregated South Africans into different racial groups and restricted their rights. Verwoerd also introduced a number of security laws, which were used to suppress opposition to apartheid.

Verwoerd's policies were met with widespread international condemnation. In 1960, he was expelled from the Commonwealth of Nations. In 1966, he was assassinated by a white supremacist.

Verwoerd was a complex and controversial figure. He was a brilliant politician, but he was also a ruthless and authoritarian leader. His policies caused great suffering for millions of South Africans, and they ultimately led to the end of apartheid.

Verwoerd's Early Life

Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on 8 September 1901. He was the son of Wilhelm Verwoerd, a schoolteacher, and Anna Jacoba Vos. Verwoerd's father died when he was only five years old, and his mother remarried a few years later. Verwoerd did not get along well with his stepfather, and he often ran away from home.

In 1918, Verwoerd graduated from high school and enrolled at the University of Amsterdam. He studied sociology, psychology, and philosophy. In 1924, he received his doctorate in psychology.

After graduating from university, Verwoerd worked as a journalist and a teacher. In 1928, he emigrated to South Africa. He settled in Johannesburg, where he worked as a professor of sociology at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Verwoerd's Political Career

Verwoerd joined the National Party in 1936. The National Party was a white supremacist party that supported the segregation of South Africans into different racial groups. In 1948, the National Party won the general election, and Verwoerd was elected to Parliament.

In 1958, Verwoerd became Prime Minister of South Africa. He immediately began to implement his apartheid policies. He introduced a number of laws, including the Population Registration Act, the Group Areas Act, and the Bantu Education Act. These laws segregated South Africans into different racial groups and restricted their rights.

Verwoerd also introduced a number of security laws, which were used to suppress opposition to apartheid. These laws gave the government wide-ranging powers to detain, imprison, and torture opponents of apartheid.

Verwoerd's policies were met with widespread international condemnation. In 1960, he was expelled from the Commonwealth of Nations. In 1966, he was assassinated by a white supremacist.

Verwoerd's Legacy

Verwoerd's legacy is still debated today. Some people believe that he was a great leader who saved South Africa from communism. Others believe that he was a racist who caused great suffering for millions of South Africans.

Whatever one's opinion of Verwoerd, there is no doubt that he was one of the most important figures in the history of South Africa. His policies shaped the country's history for decades, and his legacy continues to be debated today.