Betsie Verwoerd

Betsie Verwoerd
Spouse of the Prime Minister of South Africa
In role 2 September 1958 – 6 September 1966
Preceded by	Susan de Klerk
Succeeded by	Tini Vorster
Personal details
Born	(1901-05-17)17 May 1901 Middelburg, Cape Colony
Died	29 February 2000(2000-02-29) (aged 98) Orania, Northern Cape, South Africa
Nationality	South African
Political party	National Party
Spouse	Hendrik Verwoerd (1927–1966, his death)
Children	7

Elizabeth "Betsie" Verwoerd, (née Schoombie; 17 May 1901 – 29 February 2000) was the spouse of the Prime Minister of South Africa from 2 September 1958 until the assassination of her husband Hendrik Verwoerd on 6 September 1966.

Betsie was of Danish descent and born on 17 May 1901 in Middelburg in the Cape Colony.

Betsie met her husband while they both attended Stellenbosch University in the early 1920s. They were married in Hamburg, Germany where Hendrik was studying on 7 January 1927. The couple returned to South Africa in 1928. They had seven children - five sons and two daughters. One of her daughters, Anna, married Carel Boshoff who later founded the Afrikaner settlement of Orania.

Her husband was assassinated in 1966. Afterwards, she occasionally conducted some official duties such as opening the Hendrik Verwoerd Dam (later renamed Gariep Dam) in 1972.

In 1992 she moved to Orania, the Afrikaner settlement founded by her son-in-law. She was visited by the first democratically-elected President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela at her home in 1995.

Betsie Verwoerd died at her home on 29 February 2000 at the age of 98. Nelson Mandela expressed his sadness at her death, stating he had been impressed with her "pure Afrikaner hospitality" when he visited in 1995.

After her death her Amietis Street, Orania house was converted into a museum. A primary school in Randfontein was previously named in her honour; it was later renamed. A street in Goodwood, Cape Town retains her name.