Christiaan Willem Smuts

From Daily Escape

The Honourable Christiaan Willem Smuts
Prime Minister of the Republic of South Africa
In office September 19, 2004 — August 4, 2007
Political party	United Party
Preceded by	Thabo Mbeki
Succeeded by	Festus Mogae
Born	April 3, 1956 Port Elizabeth, Cape Province, South Africa
Spouse	Elisabeth Smuts
Profession	Politician, lawyer, university professor
Religion	Dutch Reformed
Languages	Afrikaans, Dutch, English, French

The Honourable Christiaan Willem Smuts (b. April 3, 1956) was the Prime Minister of the Republic of South Africa from September 19, 2004 through August 4, 2007. He is the leader of the United Party and currently serves as the Leader of the Opposition.

Early life

Smuts's father, Pieter, was reportedly a distant cousin of the famous South African statesman Jan Smuts (though no concrete evidence exists to support this, and most historians believe it to be false). His mother, Kim, was a Dutch nurse who emigrated to South Africa in her late teens. Pieter was a career military officer who fought with distinction and courage during the Second World War and returned from that conflict with a resolutely anti-racist outlook, having witnessed firsthand the barbarity of the National Socialist regime. As such, Pieter was vocal in his support of the liberal/progressive wing of the ruling United Party, particularly men such as Jan Hofmeyr, with whom he became casual friends.

His father and mother met in 1948 and married on June 6, 1950; six years later, Christiaan was born. He was an only child.

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