Nico Diederichs
Nicolaas Johannes Diederichs | |
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3rd State President of South Africa | |
In office 10 October 1975 – 21 August 1978 | |
Prime Minister | B. J. Vorster |
Preceded by | Jacobus Johannes Fouché |
Succeeded by | B. J. Vorster |
Minister of Finance | |
In office 1967–1975 | |
Preceded by | Eben Dönges |
Succeeded by | Owen Horwood |
Personal details | |
Born | Ladybrand, South Africa | 17 November 1903
Died | 21 August 1978 Cape Town, South Africa | (aged 74)
Citizenship | South African |
Political party | National Party |
Spouse | Marga Potgieter (1907-1998) |
Children | 4 |
Alma mater | University of Munich University of Cologne Leiden University |
Nickname | Nico |
Nicolaas Johannes "Nico" Diederichs (17 November 1903, Ladybrand[1] – 21 August 1978) served as the third State President of South Africa from 1975 to 1978.[2]
An economist, Diederichs obtained a doctorate from the University of Leiden.[1] During the 1930s and 1940s he became a prominent figure in Afrikaner nationalist circles. He founded the Reddingsdaadbond organisation to promote the economic wellbeing of Afrikaners.
Life and career
Diederichs was a National Party member of Parliament from 1953 to 1975. He served as Minister of Economic Affairs from 1958 to 1967, as Minister of Mines from 1961 to 1964, and as Minister of Finance from 1967 to 1975. In the latter capacity he became known as "Mr Gold." He served as the first chancellor of the Rand Afrikaans University and ceremonial State President from 1975 until his death, after a short illness, of a heart attack on 21 August 1978 in Cape Town.
Publications by Nicolaas Diederichs (selection)
- Nicolaas Diederichs: Vom Leiden und Dulden. Bonn, 1930. (Dissertation Leiden University)
- N. Diederichs: Die Volkebond, sy ontstaan, samestelling en werksaamhede. Pretoria, 1933
- N. Diederichs: Nasionalisme as lewensbeskouing en sy verhouding tot internasionalisme. Bloemfontein, 1936
References
- Specific
- ^ a b "Biography of Diederichs, Nicolaas". Archontology.org. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
- ^ "Presidency in South Africa". SouthAfricaWeb.co.za. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
- Bibliography
- Eric Rosenthal (ed.): Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa. Juta and Company Limited, Kaapstad en Johannesburg, 1978.
External links
- Use dmy dates from May 2011
- 1903 births
- 1978 deaths
- People from Ladybrand
- Afrikaner people
- Afrikaner nationalists
- White South African people
- South African people of German descent
- National Party (South Africa) politicians
- State Presidents of South Africa
- Finance ministers of South Africa
- Members of the House of Assembly of South Africa
- Leiden University alumni
- South African politician stubs