Jimmy Kruger

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James Thomas "Jimmy" Kruger (1917 — May 9, 1987[1]) was a South African politician who rose to the position of Minister of Justice and the Police in the cabinet of Prime Minister John Vorster from 1974 to 1979.

Kruger was an Afrikaner and part of the conservative National Party government which championed apartheid. He was responsible for the banning of Steve Biko.

He is probably best known in the film Cry Freedom, played by actor John Thaw, where the liberal white South African journalist Donald Woods complains to Jimmy Kruger about the detention and treatment of Black Consciousness Movement leader Steve Biko. Woods urges Kruger to establish a dialogue with Steve Biko, which he refuses citing that they are fighting for South Africa, for their own land. He is also famous for remarking about the death in police detention of black consciousness leader Steve Biko: "It leaves me cold." (A literal translation of the Afrikaans Dit laat my koud)[2]

At first, Kruger maintained that Biko had died during a hunger strike.[3] This account was challenged by Woods.[4] Kruger later began to recant his earlier statements, while claiming that Biko had authored pamphlets calling for "blood and body in the streets."[5] Woods came under increasing scrutiny for his articles, and finally, following the publication of an article calling on Kruger to resign,[6] he was banned under direct orders from Kruger.[7] Not long afterwards, Woods and his family fled the country for a life of exile in England.[8]

In response to international pressure, the South African government ordered an inquest to investigate the cause of Biko's death; the presiding magistrate concluded that Biko had died of brain damage caused by head injury; however, no one was held responsible for, or prosecuted for, Biko's death.[9] Even so, it was the end of Kruger's career. Having decided that his performance had severely compromised the country's credibility abroad, the government ordered him to resign, and he lost not only his cabinet post, but his membership in the ruling party, as well.[10] Kruger spent the rest of his life in political obscurity.[11]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Donald Woods, Biko, p. 404
  2. ^ Biko, p. 214
  3. ^ Biko, p. 213
  4. ^ Donald Woods, South African Dispatches, p. 167-168
  5. ^ South African Dispatches, p. 179
  6. ^ South African Dispatches, pp. 185-188
  7. ^ South African Dispatches, p. 189
  8. ^ South African Dispatches, pp. xiii-xvi
  9. ^ South African Dispatches, p. 190
  10. ^ Ibid.
  11. ^ Biko, p. 404
v • d • e
Presidents of the Senate and NCOP of South Africa
First Senate (1910-1981)
Reitz • van Heerden • Kerr • van Niekerk • Malan • Myburgh • Wessels • van Niekerk • Naudé • de Klerk • Viljoen • Kruger
Second Senate (1994-1997)
National Council of Provinces (1997-present)
Lekota • Pandor • Kgoali • Mahlangu
v • d • e
Justice ministers of South Africa
pre-Apartheid (1910-1948)
Hertzog • Sauer • de Wet • Roos • Pirow • Smuts • Steyn • Lawrence
Apartheid-era (1948-1994)
Swart • Erasmus • Vorster • Pelser • Kruger • Schlebusch • Coetsee
Post-Apartheid (1994-present)
Omar • Maduna • Mabandla


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