Hennie Bekker (politician)

Hendrik Jacobus "Hennie" Bekker (born 7 July 1942) is a South African politician who served in the Parliament of South Africa from 1987 to 2009, excepting a brief hiatus in the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature from 2003 to 2004. He represented the National Party (NP) until the end of apartheid in 1994, after which he joined the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP).

Hennie Bekker
National Assembly of South Africa
In office
23 April 2004 – May 2009
In office
May 1994 – March 2003
Member of the House of Assembly
In office
1987–1994
Personal details
Born
Hendrik Jacobus Bekker

(1942-07-07) 7 July 1942
CitizenshipSouth Africa
Political partyInkatha Freedom Party (since 1994)
Other political
affiliations		National Party (until 1994)
SpouseGerda Bekker

Early career

Bekker was born on 7 July 1942[1] and is from present-day Gauteng.[2] He has a doctorate in business administration from the unaccredited Almeda University.[3] Between 1964 and 1981, he worked in corporate banking and business, including at Sanlam.[3]

In 1981, he launched his political career with the National Party (NP), which governed South Africa during apartheid; he initially served as a Member of the Provincial Council in the Transvaal and then joined Parliament in 1987, representing a constituency in the Transvaal.[3][4] During the democratic transition, he, alongside Derek Keys, represented the NP on the transitional economic council from 1993.[3]

Post-apartheid political career: 1994–2009

Ahead of South Africa's first post-apartheid elections in 1994, Bekker left the NP to join the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), a majority Zulu party.[2][5] Under the IFP banner, he was elected to a seat in the new National Assembly.[6] He was re-elected to his legislative seat the next general election in 1999[1] and also served as the IFP's economic spokesperson.[7] In March 2003, he resigned from the National Assembly to join the IFP's caucus in the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature,[8][2] though he returned to the National Assembly for a final term after the 2004 general election.[9] He also retained several private business interests.[3]

Personal life

Bekker is married to politician Gerda Bekker, with whom he has three children and several grandchildren.[3]

References
  1. "General Notice: Notice 1319 of 1999 – Electoral Commission: Representatives Elected to the Various Legislatures" (PDF). Government Gazette of South Africa. Vol. 408, no. 20203. Pretoria, South Africa: Government of South Africa. 11 June 1999. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  2. Pressly, Donwald (4 March 2003). "Musical chairs for IFP MPs". News24. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  3. "Dr Hennie Bekker". Chartered Governance Institute of Southern Africa. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  4. "Wooing White Loyalty After Apartheid's Fall". Los Angeles Times. 25 September 1990. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  5. Bekker, Gerda (2014). Living on the political edge: Villain or maverick? A biography of controversial politics. Bekker. ISBN 9780994153104.
  6. South Africa: Campaign and Election Report April 26–29, 1994. International Republican Institute. 1994. Retrieved 13 April 2023 – via Yumpu.
  7. "IFP welcomes plans for Richards Bay harbour". The Mail & Guardian. 26 September 2007. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  8. Pressly, Donwald (12 March 2004). "IFP lists its top contenders". News24. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  9. "General Notice: Notice 717 of 2004 - Electoral Commission – List of Names of Representatives in the National Assembly and the Nine Provincial Legislatures in Respect of the Elections Held on 14 April 2004" (PDF). Government Gazette of South Africa. Vol. 466, no. 2677. Pretoria, South Africa: Government of South Africa. 20 April 2004. pp. 4–95. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
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