Jacobus Gideon Nel Strauss
Encyclopedia
Jacobus Gideon Nel Strauss, known as Koos Strauss, Kosie Strauss or J. G. N. Strauss (Calvinia
, Northern Cape
17 December 19007 March 1990), was leader of the South African United Party
from 1950 to 1956. In the 1953 election
the United Party under Strauss lost seven seats, while their opponents the National Party
gained twenty-five more seats and a majority in Parliament. Following this election, the United Party suffered two splits, creating the Liberal Party and the Union Federal Party
.
In 1954, a further split resulted in the National Conservative Party
. In 1956, while plagued by ill health and convalescing in England, he asked his party to decide whether they wished to keep him on as leader. They declined to do so: the first time the leader of a South African political party had been forcibly removed. Strauss was succeeded as United Party leader by De Villiers Graaff.
Calvinia
Calvinia is a regional town in the Northern Cape province of South Africa named after the Swiss religious reformer John Calvin. The town belongs to the Hantam Local Municipality which forms part of the Namakwa District Municipality. The Calvinia district is part of the Great Karoo region of South...
, Northern Cape
Northern Cape
The Northern Cape is the largest and most sparsely populated province of South Africa. It was created in 1994 when the Cape Province was split up. Its capital is Kimberley. It includes the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, part of an international park shared with Botswana...
17 December 19007 March 1990), was leader of the South African United Party
United Party (South Africa)
The United Party was South Africa's ruling political party between 1934 and 1948. It was formed by a merger of most of Prime Minister Barry Hertzog's National Party with the rival South African Party of Jan Smuts, plus the remnants of the Unionist Party...
from 1950 to 1956. In the 1953 election
South African general election, 1953
The 1953 South African general election consolidated the position of the National Party under DF Malan, who won an absolute majority of the 156 seats in the House of Assembly...
the United Party under Strauss lost seven seats, while their opponents the National Party
National Party (South Africa)
The National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
gained twenty-five more seats and a majority in Parliament. Following this election, the United Party suffered two splits, creating the Liberal Party and the Union Federal Party
Union Federal Party
The Union Federal Party broke away from the United Party in 1953. It was an Anglo-African party, committed to retaining links with the British Commonwealth and monarchy. It also wished to explore liberalising the non-white franchise...
.
In 1954, a further split resulted in the National Conservative Party
National Conservative Party (South Africa)
The National Conservative Party existed in South Africa between 1954 and 1957. It was led by Bailey Bekker, after he and others split from the United Party....
. In 1956, while plagued by ill health and convalescing in England, he asked his party to decide whether they wished to keep him on as leader. They declined to do so: the first time the leader of a South African political party had been forcibly removed. Strauss was succeeded as United Party leader by De Villiers Graaff.