Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd Biography

Birth of Hendrik Verwoerd

Verwoerd emigrates to South Africa with his parents

Appointed Professor of Sociology

Appointed editor of the Afrikaans Nationalist newspaper "die Transvaaler"

Appointed Editor of Die Transvaler

Opposes South Africas participation in the war

Appointed Vice Chairman of the National Party in the Transvaal

Elected Senator

Responsible for the implementation of Apartheid

Group Areas Act, forces physical separation between races by creating different residential areas for different races

Appointed Leader of the Senate

Group Areas Act, forces physical separation between races by creating different residential areas for different races

Appointed Minister of Native Affairs

The system imposes racially segregated schooling under apartheid.

Promotes legislation transferring African education to state control.

Withdraws from the commonwealth rather than abandon Apartheid

Withdraws from the commonwealth rather than abandon Apartheid

Wins National Party leadership following Strijdom's death.

Becomes prime minister after Strijdom's death.

Appointed Prime Minister of South Africa

Moves from Native Affairs administration to national political leadership.

Takes national leadership of the apartheid government.

Bantu Investment Corporation Act, provides for black investment in black areas

A Bill is passed which abolishes all native representation in Parliament

A massacre during an ANC & PAC demonstration

A massacre during an ANC & PAC demonstration

Escapes an assassination attempt

During a vote of confidence Verwoerd announces a referendum on the republic

During a vote of confidence Verwoerd announces a referendum on the republic

During a vote of confidence Verwoerd announces a referendum on the republic

MacMillan makes a speech before the South African Parliament, the "winds of change"

MacMillan makes a speech before the South African Parliament, the "winds of change"

Rejects external pressure to dismantle the apartheid system.

Receives Harold Macmillan's Wind of Change speech before Parliament.

After the Sharpville massacre the ANC & PAC are banned

Defends government security policy amid international condemnation.

World opinion turns against apartheid. Over 400 are wounded, including women & children. For the 1st time the United Nations intervenes in South Africa. Black protestors are massacred protesting against apartheid pass laws, 69 are killed. After the Sharpville massacre the ANC & PAC are banned

Faces a national political crisis after police killings at Sharpeville.

The Government suspends habeas corpus. The Government declares a State of Emergency. South Africa is placed under martial law

Emergency powers permit mass detention and restrictions on meetings.

Government declares a state of emergency after Sharpeville.

The Referendum Act is passed

The Referendum Act is passed

The Referendum Act is passed

The ANC & PAC are banned by the Unlawful Organisations Act

Government bans the ANC and PAC under new legislation.

The ANC & PAC are banned by the Unlawful Organisations Act

The ANC & PAC are banned by the Unlawful Organisations Act. Membership of the ANC & the PAC is punishable by imprisonment

Open political activity by both liberation movements becomes illegal.

David Pratt shoots Verwoerd at the Rand Easter Show.

Verwoerd resumes duties 5 weeks later. Verwoerd is shot in the head by a Transvaal farmer

Verwoerd survives serious injuries and later resumes office.

Verwoerd announces the referendum on a republic will be held 5th October

Announces that the republic referendum will occur on 5 October.

Prepares white voters to decide South Africa's constitutional status.

Wins a small majority of white referendum votes to South Africa out of the Commonwealth

90.5% of whites vote, 850,458 in favour of a republic & 775,878 against

Wins a small majority of white referendum votes to South Africa out of the Commonwealth. 90.5% of whites vote, 850,458 in favour of a republic & 775,878 against

Wins a narrow majority for creating a South African republic.

Uses the referendum result to advance republican constitutional change.

Legislation is prepared to establish the Republic of South Africa

Tries to keep South Africa within the Commonwealth but is forced to withdraw membership

Tries to keep South Africa within the Commonwealth but is forced to withdraw membership

South Africa withdraws from the Commonwealth

South Africa leaves the Commonwealth. Despite leaving the Commonwealth preferential trade would continue

South Africas membership of the Commonwealth is terminated

The Republic of South Africa comes into existence

Verwoerd forms a republican ministry

Coloured Persons Reserves Act, apartheid legislation

Brings the election forward to October 1961

Urban Bantu Councils Act, apartheid legislation. Preservation of Coloured Areas Act, apartheid legislation

Coloured Persons Reserves Act, apartheid legislation

Urban Bantu Councils Act, apartheid legislation

The National Party wins 105 seats & the United Party wins 53 seats

Bombs are exploded at power stations & Government offices by Umkhonto we Sizwe. A bombing campaign held on the Afikaner Dinganes day, anniversarry Blood River

Bombs are exploded at power stations & Government offices by Umkhonto we Sizwe

Announces self-Government for Transkei, to show races can have self-development. The Government tries out its policy of "separate development"

South Africa is expelled from the Commission for Technical Co-operation in Africa

Acts of sabotage take place in Port Elizabet & Durban. Public getherings in connection with the trial are banned

Announces self-Government for Transkei, to show races can have self-development

Announces self-Government for Transkei, to show races can have self-development

The Sabotage Act prevents any banned person from being quoted in print. The Sabotage Act gives sabotage a minimum of 5 yrs in prison without parole. The Sabotage Act allows house arrests & bans which cannot be challenged in court

The United Nations General Assembly votes in favour of sanctions against South Africa

Acts of sabotage take place in Port Elizabet & Durban

The United Nations General Assembly votes in favour of sanctions against South Africa

The Transkei voters reject the homeland policy by 3 to 1

The General Law Amendment Act enables the Min of Justice to prolong prisoner arrest

The Organisation for African Unity is founded, it immediately condems apartheid

SWAPO initiates an armed struggle for independence in South West Africa

The Transkei becomes a "self-governing" homeland

South Africa becomes a dictatorial police state under the General Law Amendment Act

Those arrested can be held for 90 days without any rights. The General Law Amendment Act waives the right of habeas corpus. South Africa becomes a dictatorial police state under the General Law Amendment Act

Enacts legislation to "break the back" of Umkhonto

The United Nations resolves the place South West Africa under United Nations control. The United Nations revokes the South African mandate over Namibia

The United Nations revokes the South African mandate over Namibia

The World Court rules in South Africas favour for it to retain control

The United Nations resolves the place South West Africa under United Nations control

A Parliamentary messenger stabs Verwoerd during a session in the House Assembly

Death of Hendrik Verwoerd, assassinated

Death of Hendrik Verwoerd

Lesotho is granted independence. Botswana is granted independence

Lesotho is granted independence. Botswana is granted independence