Nicolaas Havenga

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Nicolaas Christiaan Havenga (1882-1957) was a South African politician who served as Finance Minister in the governments of J. B. M. Hertzog and Daniel François Malan.

Havenga was a leading member of Hertzog's government and indeed with Oswald Pirow he formed the basis of Hertzog's 'inner cabinet' which controlled decision making.[1] As Finance Minister he was responsible for the decision to take South Africa off gold, one that led to a significant economic upturn.[2]

A loyal supporter of Hertzog, he followed his leader into the Afrikaner Party following its formation.[3] Before long however he was back serving under Malan and following the Prime Minister's retirement in 1954 he indicated that Havenga was his prefered choice of successor.[4] Despite this endorsement Havenga lost out to Johannes Gerhardus Strijdom and spent his final years in retirement, although he did emerge to criticize the reforms of in 1955.[5]

[edit] References

  1. ^ N.G. Garson, 'Oswald Pirow' entry in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
  2. ^ Grey Steel; Part 7, 60: The Tour Of England And North America
  3. ^ Daniel Francois Malan
  4. ^ Exit the Boer Moses from Time
  5. ^ The Union in Danger from Time


v • d • e
Finance ministers of South Africa
pre-Apartheid (1910-1948)
Hull • Smuts • Graaff • Burton • Orr • Burton • Havenga • Hofmeyr • Sturrock
Apartheid-era (1948-1994)
Havenga • Louw • Naudé • Dönges • Diederichs • Horwood • du Plessis • Keys
Post-Apartheid (1994-present)
Liebenberg • Keys • Manuel
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