Marais Viljoen
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Marais Viljoen (2 December 1915 - 4 January 2007) was the last non-executive State President of South Africa from June 4, 1979 until September 3, 1984.
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[edit] Early life
Marais was the youngest of six children. He was married on April 20, 1940 to Dorothea Maria Brink (September 17, 1917 – October 5, 2005), and had one daughter from his marriage, who in turn had one son. Before entering a political career, he worked in the Post Office, and thereafter at the Afrikaans language newspaper, Die Transvaler, edited by Hendrik Verwoerd, who later became Prime Minister.
[edit] Political career
Marais served as MP for Alberton, near Johannesburg, as President of the Senate, and as acting State President from August 21, 1978 to October 10, 1978, after which B.J. Vorster was briefly elected to the position. Marais was seen as a relatively moderate member of the National Party that instituted apartheid.[citation needed]
[edit] State Presidency
After Vorster's resignation in 1979, Marais held the post of State President from June 4, 1979 until September 3, 1984. The State Presidency during this time was a ceremonial post, like that of the Governor-General, which it replaced in 1961.
Under the 1983 Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, the position of the State President was changed from a ceremonial post to an executive position. Marais retired and was succeeded by P. W. Botha, who until 1984 had been the executive Prime Minister.
[edit] Death
Marais Viljoen died on 4 January 2007 due to heart failure.[1] He received a state funeral on 13 January 2007.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ "Former state president Marais Viljoen passes away", Mail & Guardian, January 05, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-01-05.
- ^ "Viljoen funeral shows SA ’moving forward’", Business Day, 15 January 2007. Retrieved on 2007-01-05.
| Preceded by Nicolaas Johannes Diederichs |
Acting State President of South Africa 1978 |
Succeeded by Balthazar Johannes Vorster |
| Preceded by Balthazar Johannes Vorster |
State President of South Africa 1979–1984 |
Succeeded by Pieter Willem Botha |
| Presidents of South Africa | ||
| 1961-1994 | ceremonial: Charles Robberts Swart | Jozua François Naudé (acting) | Jacobus Johannes Fouché | Nicolaas Johannes Diederichs | Marais Viljoen (acting) | B.J. Vorster | Marais Viljoen | executive: Pieter Willem Botha | Frederik Willem de Klerk |
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| 1994– | Nelson Mandela | Thabo Mbeki |
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