| Jacobus Arnoldus Combrinck Graaff | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 4, 1863 Villiersdorp, Cape Colony |
| Died | April 5, 1927 (aged 64) England |
| Occupation | Businessman, Politician |
| Nationality | South African |
Sir Jacobus Arnoldus Combrinck Graaff, also known as 'Sir James', was a South African cabinet minister, Senator, businessman, and South African Party whip.
Jacobus Graaff, younger bother of Sir David Graaff, was born on the Wolfhuiskloof farm near Villiersdorp in 1863. Following his fathers death in 1875 he left Villiersdorp to work with his bother David at the Combrinck & Co. butchery in Cape Town. In partnership with his brother he took over the business in 1881.[1]:155 In 1899 he and his bother co-founded and was a partner in the Imperial Cold Storage and Supply Company.[1]:55
He was chairman of the Afrikaner Bond's Cape Town branch and was elected to Legislative Council representing the northwestern Cape in 1903. After the Union of South Africa was formed in 1910 he became a senator. From 1913 to 1920 he was minister without portfolio in Louis Botha's cabinet. He was minister of public works, posts and telegraphs in Jan Smuts's second ministry. He was knighted Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in 1917.[1]:155
In 1907 Jacobus and his bother made a GB£100,000 donation (equivalent to £41,100,000[2] or R471,195,167 in 2010[3]) for the establishment of the De Villiers Graaff High School in Villiersdorp.
He lived in a large mansion, Bordeaux, on the beach front in Sea Point.