This was a Man [A study of Hendrik Verwoerd]

183 Pages·1967·45.937 MB·English

by  Pieter W. Grobbelaar

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This vvas a Man
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i s was a a n
Written and compiled by Pieter W. Grobbelaar
With a foreword by Dr.J. S. Gericke
Human &'Rousseau I967
Copyright© tg6y by Human & Rousseau
Acknowledynents: See p. t y6
First published in tg6y by Human & Rousseau
Pubhshets (Pty.) Ltd.
ya Keerom Street, Cape Town, and
t ya Andries Sueet, Pretoria
Set, printed and bound by
Gothic anting Co. Ltd., Observatory, Cape
Foreword by Dr. j S. Gericke y
Contents
s. The New Citizen 9
a. Professor Doctor z3
g. Editor-in-Chief g~
4. The Honourable yc
g. Smth Prime Mmrster 53
6. The Republic of South Africa 93
7. r966 rg3
References r pg
Photographs: Acknomledgernents r p6
His Nation Will Not Forget Him
WVhen history calls a man immortal, generally it ofst y lay in the realisation and consununation
prefers those who, because of their convictions or of the unity of the human race. This philosophy of
principles, have possessed the courage to stand alone unity was taken to extreme limits and expounded
against the spirit and tenor of their times. The names with ahnost insane fervour. Slogans about human
of those who merely rode the prevailing currents, dignity, equality and freedom achieved the status of
seldom attain a place of honour in its pages. Almost a new religion, and dominated the activities of secular
without exception, lasting greatness is achieved on a and religious institutions. Any form of separation or
sohtary course. diKerentiation, for whatever reason and however
Among statesmen there can seldom have been one good its results, suddenly became a deadly sin. to be
who stood alone against the world in the same degree damned with greater fervour on the political plat-
as Dr. Hendrik Verwoerd. The world press was form and &om the pulpit than any transgression
against him, and all the mass media were used to against God's laws ever aroused.
raise against him a Hood of opposition and hate. There was one country which could not identify
With few exceptions, all the statesmen of the world, itself with this kind of struggle for unity, and one
both the lesser and the greater, took their stand statesman could not join the chorus. Dr. Verwoerd
against him. beheved that God, Creator of the in6nite diversity of
To be sure, he succeeded in uniting behind him the visible universe, also created diversity of race and
the people of his own country to an extent never racial difference, and that the highest development
before achieved by any South A&ican leader. And of a race or group was possible only if it maintained
at his grave the people of our country became one its own identity. Under his leadership, the idea of
large family of mourners. autonomous development became practical state
It was his destiny to be called to the helm at a policy. And it was during his term of o%ce as Prime
time in history when tremendous changes were taking Minister that a growing number of people began to
place in the course of human thought. Born &om the believe that this policy might succeed, and that the
terrors of the Second World War, and fed by purpose- South African "experiment" could possibly oKer an
tui, subtle and continuous propaganda, the con- acceptable alternative to the "all-inane-fold" policy
viction had swept 'across the world that the welfare of the rest of the world. In addition, events in the
other African states and elsewhere were contrasting un- In his own country he will be remembered as the
favourably with the peace and prosperity in South man who gave all his vigour and talent, and 6nally
Afric. Our country thus found itself in the un- his life, to the cause he believed in. He will be re-
enviable position that our successes, and not our membered as the man whose life, as weil as his death,
failures, increasingly antagonised the world against brought a new spirit of unity and goodwill among us.
us. It could simply not be countenanced that Dr. He will be remembered as the great leader who was
Verwoerd's vision and actions could achieve succem. strong enough to take a lone stand, but humble
For the same reason, South A&ica's victory at the enough to remain close to his people; who was great
World Court resulted in a new campaign of hate and enough to be acclaimed, but nieek enough to sub-
vituperation. The better this country fared, the more ordinate himself to the cause he servA; who was
vicious outside attacks becanie. conservative enough to remain tumly rooted in the
For eight years this viliification was directed parti- past, but sulFicientiy realistic to take into account the
cularly at one man. But he remained throughout the demands of the present and future; who was mentally
smiling statesman who, to the end, reached out the so well equipped that he was a match for the leaders
hand of friendship, even to those who abused him. of the world, but devout enough to bend his will to
On the international stage he remained to his death God. He will live on in the hearts of his countrymen,
a lonely figure. Whether the world's hostile verdict and time will not dim his image,
against him will endure, will depend on the extent A century hence, though there may still be those
to which the world returns once more to a balanced who are unable to accept his views, the unanunous
outlook, to realism and common sense. verdict of the world will be that he was a great man.
g. S. Cerise
x. The New Citizen
In the Netherlands during September xgoi, the In a big apartment block at number x6 Jacob van
Orange Free State and Transvaal were never far Lennep Quay, a son was born to them at g p.m. The
from people's thoughts. For two years the Boer father was Wilhelm Verwoerd, the mother Anje
repuhlics had been waging all-out war against Great Strik. They decided to name their new child Hendrik
Britain. The names of the Boer presidents and Frensch. They already had another son: Len, who
generals — Kruger, Steyn, De Wet, Be la key — were was two years old.
household ~ords among the Dutch. Only a year Wilhelm Johannes Verwoerd had been a shop
before, the Netherlands, mother country of the re- assistant, but now, at the age of twenty-seven, was a
publics, had demonstrated her moral support of the partner in a grocery business. His surname indicates
two young states in a singular way: Queen Wil- that he had pastoral origins: Van der Woerd — a
helmina had challenged Britannia's sovereignty of "woerd" being a low-lying piece of ground in the
the waves by sending the Gcldrrlund to Lourenqo arms of a dyke. He was a handsome man with wavy
Marques to bring the aged and ailing Transvaal hair, a bushy moustache and piercing eyes, a young
President, Paul Kruger, to Europe. His journey man of high Christian principles. His wife was the
through France, Gerxnany and the Netherlands grandchild of a prominent cleric.
became a march of triumph. Flags and banners be- In his church community Wilhelm Verwoerd was
decked the streets, crowds shouted themselves hoarse. a leading 6gure, a good speaker and a willing worker.
But no government dared to aid his just cause against In politics he was anti-socialist. Deeply moved by
the leading empire of the world. the fate of the Boer women and children, he and his
He was disappointed and frustrated, but his spirit wife enthusiastically collected money and provisions
remained unbroken. Temporarily, before settling in for them. Indeed, they were so inspired by the Boer
Switzerland, the President waited in the small cause that they even talked of emigrating to South
Netherlands city of Utrecht for news booxn faraway Africa. Then came the day when Wilhelm Verwoerd
South Africa. Boer victories brought hope, but other xnet President Kruger personally. Now he was con-
tidings told of vast suHering and devastation. The vinced that, he must join "Kruger's people".
Boer republics were staggering under heavy bloom. The baby Hendrik was only a few months old
In the midst of the tidings of war, September 8th, when peace caxne. The republics had lost their
x got, was a great day for a young Amsterdam couple. &eedom. With heavy hearts thousands of Boers laid