Marthinus van Schalkwyk | |
---|---|
Minister of Tourism | |
In office 10 May 2009 – 25 May 2014 |
|
President | Jacob Zuma |
Preceded by | Valli Moosa |
Succeeded by | Derek Hanekom |
Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism | |
In office 29 April 2004 – 10 May 2009 |
|
Leader of the Opposition | |
In office 1997–1999 |
|
Preceded by | F.W. de Klerk |
Succeeded by | Tony Leon |
Premier of the Western Cape | |
In office 21 June 2002 – 28 April 2004 |
|
Preceded by | Peter Marais |
Succeeded by | Ebrahim Rasool |
Personal details | |
Born | 10 November 1959 |
Nationality | South African |
Political party | African National Congress |
Other political affiliations |
New National Party (1997 - 2005) |
Spouse(s) | Suzette van Schalkwyk |
Children | 2 |
Religion | Dutch Reformed |
Marthinus Christoffel Johannes (Kortbroek) van Schalkwyk (born 10 November 1959 in Pietersburg), an apartheid era intelligence operative, academic, lawyer, and politician, is a former MP and Minister of Tourism in the Cabinet of South Africa. Formerly Premier of the Western Cape and Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of South Africa, he was the leader of the New National Party from its inception on 8 September 1997 until its dissolution on 9 April 2005. He was appointed Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism in the Thabo Mbeki administration as a reward for disbanding and merging his originally whites-only party with the ruling, multiracial African National Congress (ANC), despite the poor performance of the former in the 2004 General Election.
His political career began during the late apartheid years at the Rand Afrikaans University as chairman of the Student Representative Council (SRC), the Afrikaanse Studentebond (ASB), and later of the Ruiterwag, the youth wing of the Broederbond.
Van Schalkwyk was the leader of the New National Party from its inception on 8 September 1997 until its dissolution on 9 April 2005. He also served as Premier of the Western Cape and Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of South Africa.