Pieter Mattheus Kruger Le Roux, generally known as P. K. Le Roux (11 November 1904 – 23 June 1985)[1][2] was a South African National Party politician who served as a Cabinet minister between 1958 and 1968, first as Minister of Water Affairs and Agricultural Technical Services and latterly as Minister of the Interior.

P. K. Le Roux
Minister of the Interior
In office
1966–1968
Prime MinisterB. J. Vorster
Preceded byJan de Klerk
Succeeded byLourens Muller
Minister of Water Affairs and Agricultural Technical Services
In office
1958–1966
Prime Minister
Preceded byPaul Sauer (of Agriculture)
Personal details
Born
Pieter Mattheus Kruger le Roux

(1904-11-11)11 November 1904
De Rust, Cape Colony
Died23 June 1985(1985-06-23) (aged 80)
Wilderness, Cape Province[1]
Political partyNational Party
Alma materUniversity of Stellenbosch

Biography

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Pieter Mattheus Kruger Le Roux was born on 11 November 1904 at Doornhoek, a farm near De Rust in the vicinity of Oudtshoorn in what was then the Cape Colony. His parents were Gert Cornelis Le Roux and his wife Margaretha. He attended Outeniqua High School in George, then the University of Stellenbosch.[3]

First elected to parliament in 1948 as the National Party member for Victoria West, Le Roux became the government's Chief Whip in the South African parliament in 1955. He was appointed to the Cabinet as Minister of Water Affairs and Agricultural Technical Services in 1958, shortly before the end of J. G. Strijdom's premiership, and retained this role under Strijdom's successor Hendrik Verwoerd until 1966, when B. J. Vorster became Prime Minister following Verwoerd's assassination. Vorster made Le Roux Minister of the Interior, a post he retained until 1968.[4]

Election results

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Year Constituency Candidate Party Votes Percentage Ref
1943 Bredasdorp P. V. G. van der Byl United Party 4,326 56.5% [5]
P. M. K. Le Roux Reunited National Party 3,280 42.9%
1948 Victoria West P. M. K. Le Roux National Party 4,260 49.7% [6]
J. M. Connan United Party 4,236 49.4%
1953 Prieska P. M. K. Le Roux National Party 4,964 53.9% [7]
J. M. Connan United Party 4,186 45.4%
1958 Oudtshoorn P. M. K. Le Roux National Party 6,042 72.3% [8]
J. J. Joubert United Party 2,281 27.3%
1961 Oudtshoorn P. M. K. Le Roux National Party Unopposed [9]
1966 Oudtshoorn P. M. K. Le Roux National Party Unopposed [10]
1970 Oudtshoorn P. M. K. Le Roux National Party Unopposed [11]

References

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  1. ^ a b af:PK le Roux
  2. ^ "South African ministries, etc".
  3. ^ Kruger 1960, p. 8.
  4. ^ Uwechue 1977, p. 1223.
  5. ^ Schoeman 1977, p. 252.
  6. ^ Schoeman 1977, p. 279.
  7. ^ Schoeman 1977, p. 328.
  8. ^ Schoeman 1977, p. 357.
  9. ^ Schoeman 1977, p. 398.
  10. ^ Schoeman 1977, p. 429.
  11. ^ Schoeman 1977, p. 463.
Bibliography
  • Kruger, J. F., ed. (1960). Wie is Wie in Suid-Afrika (in Afrikaans). Johannesburg: Vitae Uitgewers.
  • Schoeman, B. M. (1977). Parlementêre verkiesings in Suid-Afrika 1910–1976 (in Afrikaans). Pretoria: Aktuele Publikasies.
  • Uwechue, Ralph, ed. (1977). Africa Year Book and Who's Who. London: Africa Journal Limited. ISBN 0-903274-05-1.