Strijdom, Johannes Gerhardus

Born July 14, 1893, in Willowmore, Cape Colony; died Aug. 24, 1958, in Cape Town. Political leader of the Union of South Africa (since 1961, the Republic of South Africa). Afrikaner by nationality.

Strijdom became a leader of the National Party in 1934. In 1948 he became the minister of lands and irrigation. In December 1954 he became prime minister. Strijdom’s government implemented the policies of apartheid and the crushing of democracy. In 1956 the Strijdom government broke off consular relations with the USSR.