Nicolaas Havenga

Nicolaas Havenga
Finance minister of South Africa
In office 1929–1934
Prime Minister	J. B. M. Hertzog
Preceded by	Henry Burton
Succeeded by	Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr
Finance minister of South Africa
In office 1948–1954
Prime Minister	Daniel François Malan
Preceded by	Claud Sturrock
Succeeded by	Eric Louw
Personal details
Born	1882
Died	1957
Nationality	South African
Political party	National Party (until 1934, 1951-) United Party (1934-1941) Afrikaner Party (1941-1951)

Nicolaas Christiaan Havenga (born 1882 in Fauresmith, Oranje Free State, died 1957 in Cape Town, South Africa) was a South African politician who served as Finance Minister in the governments of J. B. M. Hertzog and Daniel François Malan.

Havenga was a leading member of Hertzog's government and indeed with Oswald Pirow he formed the basis of Hertzog's 'inner cabinet' which controlled decision making.^[1] As Finance Minister he was responsible for the decision to take South Africa off gold, one that led to a significant economic upturn.^[2]

A loyal supporter of Hertzog, he defected from the United Party government following its formation and later led the pro-Hertzog Afrikaner Party.^[3] Before long however he was back working with Malan in an Afrikaner Party-Herenigde Nasionale Party coalition, which succeeded in ousting Smuts in 1948. Havenga was appointed Minister of Finance yet again, serving under Malan as Prime Minister. Following the latter's retirement in 1954 he indicated that Havenga was his preferred choice of successor.^[4] Despite this endorsement Havenga lost out to Johannes Gerhardus Strijdom and spent his final years in retirement, although he did emerge to criticize Strijdom's reforms in 1955.^[5]

Preceded by Henry Burton	Finance ministers of South Africa 1924–1939	Succeeded by Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr
Preceded by Claud Sturrock	Finance ministers of South Africa 1948–1954	Succeeded by Eric Louw

References

1. ^ N.G. Garson, 'Oswald Pirow' entry in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
2. ^ Grey Steel; Part 7, 60: The Tour Of England And North America
3. ^ Daniel Francois Malan
4. ^ Exit the Boer Moses from Time
5. ^ The Union in Danger from Time

Persondata
Name	Havenga, Nicolaas
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1882
Place of birth
Date of death	1957
Place of death