- Chris Heunis
-
Jan Christiaan Heunis (1927–2006) was a South African Afrikaner lawyer, politician, member of the National Party and former minister in the governments of John Vorster and P.W. Botha.
Chris Heunis was born in 1927 in Uniondale close to The Cape. After studying in George, he continued his studies in law and became a lawyer in 1951. At the same time, he pursued a political career and became head of the National Party in George District and a member of the municipal council. In 1959, he was elected to George Provincial Council.
Heunis was elected to parliament in 1970, and in 1974 became Minister of Indian Affairs and Tourism in the government of John Vorster. In 1975, he became Minister of Economic Affairs. In 1979, as part of the P W Botha Government, he participated in the preparation of a new constitution, and in 1982, became Minister of Constitutional Reform. In this role, he put in place the Tricameral Parliament, gave the right to vote to Indians, and the coloured in separate chambers of the South African parliament. He convinced the leader of the Coloured Labour Party, Allan Hendrickse, to agree to this reform.
During this time, he took part in confidential informal interviews in Port Elizabeth between two NP representatives, and two representatives from the ANC. In September 1986, Heunis was unanimously voted leader of the NP in the Cape Province, taking over from President P.W. Botha. However, his ascension was halted when he was not elected to the leadership, beaten by 39 votes in Helderberg by the former NP MP and South African ambassador to London, Dennis Worrall.
At the beginning of 1989, he assumed the functions of President for the interim for 100 days when Pieter Botha suffered a cerebral congestion. He was one of the candidates for leadership of the National Party, along with Pik Botha, Barend du Plessis and Frederik de Klerk, but was beaten in the second round of elections.
Later, Heunis retired from political life, and did not participate in the elections of 1989, and returned to his law practice in Somerset West with his son Jakkie Heunis. He received an honorary doctorate in philosophy from the University of Stellenbosch, honorary lieutenant-colonel of the police, honorary citizen of George, decorated with the Grand Cordon of the order of the Republic of China, and was father of four boys and one girl. Chris Heunis died in January 2006 in Somerset West after a long illness.
External links
Political offices Preceded by
New post
Minister of Constitutional Development
1982–1989Succeeded by
Gerrit ViljoenPreceded by
Alwyn Schlebusch
Minister of Home Affairs
1980–1982Succeeded by
Frederik de KlerkPreceded by
Lourens Muller
Minister of Transport
1979–1980Succeeded by
Hendrik S. SchoemanPreceded by
Fanie Botha
Minister of Energy
February–June 1979Succeeded by
Frederik de KlerkPreceded by
Schalk van der Merwe
Minister of the Environment
November 1978 – June 1979Succeeded by
Frederik de KlerkPreceded by
Owen Horwood
Minister of Economic Affairs
1975–1980Succeeded by
Dawie de VilliersPreceded by
Owen Horwood
Minister of Tourism and Indian Affairs
1974–1975Succeeded by
Marais Steynpre-Apartheid (1910-1948) Apartheid-era (1948-1994) Post-Apartheid (1994-present) Presidents of South Africa 1961 Constitution
(ceremonial)Charles Robberts Swart · Theophilus Ebenhaezer Dönges · Jozua François Naudé * · Jacobus Johannes Fouché · Johannes de Klerk * · Nicolaas Johannes Diederichs · Marais Viljoen * · B. J. Vorster · Marais Viljoen
1983 Constitution
(executive)1996 Constitution
(executive)- = acting
Categories:- South African lawyers
- 1927 births
- 2006 deaths
- National Party (South Africa) politicians
- Afrikaner people
- White South African people
- Members of the House of Assembly of South Africa
- Government ministers of South Africa
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.