Kosie Pretorius
Encyclopedia
Jacobus Willem Francois Pretorius, commonly known as Kosie Pretorius (born 5 September 1935), is a Namibia
n politician. He is the Chairman of the Monitor Action Group
party, which mainly represents conservative white Namibians
, and was a member of the National Assembly of Namibia
from 1990 to 2005.
, Erongo Region
. He earned his B.A. and M.A. from what was then the University of the Orange Free State in Bloemfontein
, South Africa
now known as the University of the Free State
in 1956 and 1959, respectively. While there, he was an organising secretary of the Afrikaner Student Union.
from 1962 to 1989. From 1981 until the founding of Action Christian National
(ACN) party in 1989, Pretorius was the leader of the National Party
in what was then South West Africa
, an extension of the then ruling party of South Africa
. He was also Minister of Water Affairs, and Post and Telecommunications in the Transitional Government of National Unity
from 1988 to 1989. Immediately prior to independence, he was an ACN member of the Constituent Assembly, which was in place from November 1989 to March 1990.
MAG announced on 2 December 2004 that Pretorius would leave the National Assembly in March 2005 and be replaced by Jurie Viljoen
. Pretorius said that he would advise Viljoen and would remain the Chairman of MAG. According to Pretorius, this decision was difficult, but he felt it was necessary to train someone younger to represent the party in the National Assembly, and because the party held only one seat he had to step aside to make this possible.
He writes a regular column in the Windhoek Observer
called "Parliamentary Potholes".
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
n politician. He is the Chairman of the Monitor Action Group
Monitor Action Group
The Monitor Action Group is a political party in Namibia. The party is based among conservative White Namibians, with most of the top leadership having served in the government of apartheid South West Africa...
party, which mainly represents conservative white Namibians
Whites in Namibia
White Namibians are people of European or Southern African birth or descent living in Namibia. Most white Namibians are Afrikaners, while some are descended from German, Portuguese, or English immigrants.- Distribution :...
, and was a member of the National Assembly of Namibia
National Assembly of Namibia
The National Assembly of Namibia is the lower chamber of the country's bicameral Parliament. It has a total of 78 members. 72 members are directly elected through a system of party-list proportional representation and serve five-year terms. Six additional members are appointed by the President.The...
from 1990 to 2005.
Early life and education
Pretorius was born in SwakopmundSwakopmund
Swakopmund is a city on the coast of northwestern Namibia, west of Windhoek, Namibia's capital. It is the capital of the Erongo administrative district. As a seaside resort, the weather is cooler here in December to January so the territorial administration moves to Swakopmund for these months...
, Erongo Region
Erongo Region
Erongo is one of the 13 regions of Namibia. It comprises the Swakopmund magisterial district up to the Ugab River and includes Walvis Bay, Omaruru and Karibib magisterial districts. This region is named after Erongo mountain, a well known landmark in Namibia and in this area...
. He earned his B.A. and M.A. from what was then the University of the Orange Free State in Bloemfontein
Bloemfontein
Bloemfontein is the capital city of the Free State Province of South Africa; and, as the judicial capital of the nation, one of South Africa's three national capitals – the other two being Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Pretoria, the administrative capital.Bloemfontein is popularly and...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
now known as the University of the Free State
University of the Free State
The University of the Free State is situated in Bloemfontein, the capital of the Free State, South Africa. The university also has a satellite campus in Qwaqwa that was, until 2003, part of the University of the North.-Academic Divisions:...
in 1956 and 1959, respectively. While there, he was an organising secretary of the Afrikaner Student Union.
Pre-independence
Pretorius was a member of the all-white Legislative Assembly of South West Africa for GobabisGobabis
Gobabis is a town in eastern Namibia. It is the regional capital of the Omaheke Region, and the district capital of the Gobabis electoral constituency. Gobabis is situated down the B6 motorway from Windhoek to Botswana. The town is from the Buitepos border post with Botswana, and serves as an...
from 1962 to 1989. From 1981 until the founding of Action Christian National
Action Christian National
Action Christian National is a White nationalist political party in Namibia. It used to be aligned with the National Party of South Africa. The party's chairman is Jan de Wet....
(ACN) party in 1989, Pretorius was the leader of 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...
in what was then South West Africa
South West Africa
South-West Africa was the name that was used for the modern day Republic of Namibia during the earlier eras when the territory was controlled by the German Empire and later by South Africa....
, an extension of the then ruling party of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. He was also Minister of Water Affairs, and Post and Telecommunications in the Transitional Government of National Unity
Transitional Government of National Unity (Namibia)
The Transitional Government of National Unity was the government of Namibia from June 1985 to February 1989. The TGNU was a puppet government of Apartheid South Africa that sought moderate reform but was unable to secure recognition by the United Nations...
from 1988 to 1989. Immediately prior to independence, he was an ACN member of the Constituent Assembly, which was in place from November 1989 to March 1990.
Post-independence
Following independence in March 1990, Pretorius was a member of the National Assembly from 1990 to 2005. He initially represented the ACN in the National Assembly, but became the Chairman of a new party, MAG, in 1991. He was subsequently the only member of MAG in the National Assembly. Pretorius was the MAG candidate in the November 2004 presidential election, in which he received 1.15% of the national vote, finishing last out of seven candidates.MAG announced on 2 December 2004 that Pretorius would leave the National Assembly in March 2005 and be replaced by Jurie Viljoen
Jurie Viljoen
Johannes Jurie Viljoen is a Namibian politician. Viljoen was a member of the 4th National Assembly of Namibia from 2005-2010...
. Pretorius said that he would advise Viljoen and would remain the Chairman of MAG. According to Pretorius, this decision was difficult, but he felt it was necessary to train someone younger to represent the party in the National Assembly, and because the party held only one seat he had to step aside to make this possible.
He writes a regular column in the Windhoek Observer
Windhoek Observer
The Windhoek Observer is an English Saturday weekly newspaper, published in Namibia by The Windhoek Observer Ltd. Founded in 1978 by Hannes Smith and Gwen Lister it is the country's oldest and largest circulating weekly....
called "Parliamentary Potholes".