Kraai van Niekerk
Encyclopedia
André Isak "Kraai" van Niekerk, born in 1938 in Eshowe in KwaZulu-Natal
, is a South Africa
n former politician. He obtained a Ph.D. in Agriculture at the University of Stellenbosch, and then went on to work in several research positions before settling down in Rugseer near Kenhardt as a sheep farmer. Van Niekerk embarked on a political career for the National Party
when he was elected MP for Prieska in 1981
. He became Deputy Minister of Agriculture under Pieter Willem Botha
in 1986. Frederik Willem de Klerk
appointed him Minister of Agriculture in 1990. He was the only minister of the last apartheid government to keep his post in the Government of National Unity under Nelson Mandela
(until the end of the GNU in 1996). For some time, he was also the National Party's Chairman in the Northern Cape
. He retired from parliament in 1997 to join Louis Luyt
's Federal Alliance before the elections of 1999
. After the elections, he became part of the two-member caucus of the FA, which entered an alliance with the Democratic Alliance then. After the elections 2004 he became Spokesperson on Agriculture of the DA caucus in the National Assembly. Van Niekerk, who is a member of AgriSA
, has represented not less than three parties in the South African parliament. He is married to Theresa and the couple has three children.
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
, is a 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...
n former politician. He obtained a Ph.D. in Agriculture at the University of Stellenbosch, and then went on to work in several research positions before settling down in Rugseer near Kenhardt as a sheep farmer. Van Niekerk embarked on a political career for 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...
when he was elected MP for Prieska in 1981
South African general election, 1981
During the 1981 South African general election, the National Party achieved another landslide victory, winning 131 of 165 seats in the House of Assembly, which had become the sole legislative chamber following the abolition of the Senate that year...
. He became Deputy Minister of Agriculture under Pieter Willem Botha
Pieter Willem Botha
Pieter Willem Botha , commonly known as "P. W." and Die Groot Krokodil , was the prime minister of South Africa from 1978 to 1984 and the first executive state president from 1984 to 1989.First elected to Parliament in 1948, Botha was for eleven years head of the Afrikaner National Party and the...
in 1986. Frederik Willem de Klerk
Frederik Willem de Klerk
Frederik Willem de Klerk , often known as F. W. de Klerk, is the former seventh and last State President of apartheid-era South Africa, serving from September 1989 to May 1994...
appointed him Minister of Agriculture in 1990. He was the only minister of the last apartheid government to keep his post in the Government of National Unity under Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
(until the end of the GNU in 1996). For some time, he was also the National Party's Chairman in the 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...
. He retired from parliament in 1997 to join Louis Luyt
Louis Luyt
Louis Luyt is a South African business tycoon and politician, and one-time rugby administrator.Making a name for himself as a rugby star as a young man, Luyt went on to found Triomf Fertiliser, Luyt Breweries, and to take control of Ellis Park stadium in Johannesburg...
's Federal Alliance before the elections of 1999
South African general election, 1999
South Africa's second non-racial general election, held on 2 June 1999 was won by the African National Congress , who increased their number of seats by 14. Notable was the sharp decline of the New National Party, previously the National Party , who without former president F.W. de Klerk lost more...
. After the elections, he became part of the two-member caucus of the FA, which entered an alliance with the Democratic Alliance then. After the elections 2004 he became Spokesperson on Agriculture of the DA caucus in the National Assembly. Van Niekerk, who is a member of AgriSA
AgriSA
Agri South Africa is an agricultural trade association in South Africa. It is a federal organisation, which promotes on behalf of its members, the sustainable profitability and stability of commercial agricultural producers and agribusinesses through its involvement and input on national and...
, has represented not less than three parties in the South African parliament. He is married to Theresa and the couple has three children.