‘Dr No’: A.P. Treurnicht and the Ultra-Conservative Quest to Maintain Afrikaner Supremacy, 1982–1993

Abstract

In 1982 Dr A.P. Treurnicht was expelled from the National Party for opposing President P.W. Botha's reforms as a threat to Afrikaner supremacy. He subsequently formed the ultra-conservative Conservative Party. Despite the sweeping political changes taking place in South Africa in the 1980s and 1990s he remained adamant that rigid apartheid was the only means to ensure Afrikaner survival. Treurnicht's faith in Verwoerdian policies was not the only reason for his inflexibility. In contrast to his public image as a strong and dynamic leader he was not temperamentally or psychologically equipped to be a party leader as he was overly sensitive to criticism, and craved adulation. His insecurity encouraged indecision and contributed to his inability to adapt to an unravelling apartheid state. In the process he fuelled the bitterness, angst and desperation of ultra-conservatives, creating a climate for right-wing militants to turn to violence. The majority of Afrikaners, however, rejected Treurnicht as an anachronistic figure and a threat to Afrikaner survival, and supported the reforms of Botha and F.W. de Klerk.

Key words:

• A.P. Treurnicht
• P.W. Botha
• F.W. de Klerk
• H.F. Verwoerd
• Afrikaner supremacy
• apartheid, Conservative Party
• National Party
• ultra-conservatism
• Afrikaner nationalism, reform

Acknowledgements

I am indebted to John Lambert, Tilman Dedering, and Danie Goosen for their constructive criticism.

Notes

^1. H. Giliomee, The Last Leaders. A Supreme Test of Power (Cape Town: Tafelberg, 2012) and The Afrikaners: Biography of a People (Cape Town: Tafelberg, 2003).

^2. D. O'Meara, Forty Lost Years. The Apartheid State and the Politics of the National Party, 1948–1994 (Johannesburg: Ravan, 1996).

^3. D. Welsh, The Rise and Fall of Apartheid (Johannesburg & Cape Town: Jonathan Ball, 2009).

^4. J. van Rooyen, Hard Right: The New White Power in South Africa (London & New York: IB Tauris, 1994).

^5. Patriot, 30 April 1993.

^6. C. Barnard, ‘Gesêlsportret van Dr A.P. Treurnicht’, Die Huisgenoot, 3 June 1977.

^7. Barnard, ‘Gesêlsportret van Dr A.P. Treurnicht’.

^8. T. Dunbar Moodie, The Rise of Afrikanerdom. Power, Apartheid, and the Afrikaner Civil Religion (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1980), 55, 99; A.P. Treurnicht, Credo van 'n Afrikaner (Cape Town: Tafelberg, 1975), 1–5.

^9. D. Langner, Teen die Hêle Wêreld Vry. Koot Vorster – Segsman of Profeet? (Griffel: Pretoria, 2007), 108, 162.

^10. S. Gastrow, Who's Who in South African Politics (Johannesburg: Raven Press, 1985), 304–5.

^11. Van Rooyen, Hard Right, 48.

^12. Treurnicht, Credo van 'n Afrikaner, 20.

^13. H. Giliomee, ‘“Survival in Justice”: An Afrikaner Debate over Apartheid’, Comparative Studies in Society and History, 36, 3 (July 1994), 531–532.

^14. A. Mouton, Voorloper: Die Lewe van Schalk Pienaar (Cape Town: Tafelberg, 2002), 41–42.

^15. H. Kenney, Architect of Apartheid: H.F. Verwoerd, an Appraisal (Johannesburg: Jonathan Ball, 1980), 216–217, 263.

^16. Welsh, The Rise and Fall of Apartheid, 85.

^17. A. Olivier, Bode op die Spoor van die Woord. 150 Jaar met die Kerkbode (Cape Town: Lux Verbi, 1998), 152–4; Langner, Teen die Hêle Wêreld Vry, 108.

^18. Interview with Piet Cillié, 26 March 1999, Cape Town.

^19. I. de Villiers, Strooidak en Toring. Van Mense en my Tyd (Cape Town: Umuzi, 2009), 156–157.

^20. D. Richard, Moedswillig die Uwe. Perspersoonlikhede in die Noorde (Johannesburg: Perskor, 1985), 138–139.

^21. University of the Free State (hereafter UFS), Archive for Contemporary Affairs (hereafter ACA), A.P. Treurnicht collection, file 2/17/3/2, Letters from P.F.D. Weiss (22 June 1967), Danie Brink (12 June 1967); file 2/17/3/4, Letters from J. Berry (17 July 1967), W.T. Loots (1 July 1967), M.A. Gronum (20 June 1967), P.H.J. Krijnauw (22 June 1967) to Treurnicht.

^22. Richard, Moedswillig die Uwe, 137–146.

^23. University of Stellenbosch, Documentation Centre, J.S. Gericke library, P.J. Cillié collection, 220.K69 (121), A. Ries – P.J. Cillié, 13 October 1969.

^24. UFS, ACA, Albert Hertzog collection, File 4/1/205, Diary 5 October 1969; B. M. Schoeman, Vorster se 1 000 Dae (Cape Town: Human & Rousseau, 1974), 271, 279.

^25. Hoofstad, 15 June 1971.

^26. UFS, ACA, Louis Stofberg Collection, File 1, A.P. Treurnicht – L. Stofberg, 16 October 1969.

^27. Die Burger, 18 June 1971.

^28. Sunday Times, 27 June 1971.

^29. B. Pottinger, The Imperial Presidency. P.W. Botha the First Ten Years (Johannesburg: Southern Book, 1988), 135.

^30. J. Scott, Notes in the House (Cape Town: Don Nelson, 1975), 13–15.

^31. F.W. De Klerk, The Last Trek – A New Beginning: The Autobiography (London: Macmillan, 1998), 56.

^32. Interview with Schalk Pienaar, former CP MP for Potgietersrus, 20 March 2012, Pretoria.

^33. H. Kenney, Power Pride & Prejudice. The Years of Afrikaner Nationalist Rule in South Africa (Johannesburg: Jonathan Ball, 1991), 274.

^34. F. Van Zyl Slabbert, Afrikaner, Afrikaan. Anekdotes en Analise (Cape Town: Tafelberg, 1999), 20.

^35. Welsh, The Rise and Fall of Apartheid, 101,156.

^36. R. Schire, ed., Leadership in the Apartheid State. From Malan to De Klerk (Cape Town: Oxford University Press, 1994), 181.

^37. D. and J. De Villiers, PW (Cape Town: Tafelberg, 1984), 168.

^38. A.P. Treurnicht, Noodlottige Hervorming (Pretoria: Professionele Boekverspreiders, n.d.), 28, 40, 49, 51.

^39. O'Meara, Forty Lost Years, 296.

^40. Treurnicht, Noodlottige Hervorming, 3.

^41. UFS, ACA, A.P. Treurnicht collection, File 2/15/7/1, Treurnicht – Kobus, 20 May 1983.

^42. Giliomee, The Last Leaders, 169–170.

^43. UFS, ACA, A.P. Treurnicht collection, File 2/14/2, Letters from J. & A. Erasmus (26 February 1982), E. Diederichs (17 September 1982); File 2/15/14/1, Letters from F.E. Osborne (16 May 1983), B. Verwoerd (23 May 1983).

^44. Beeld, 3 April 1981; K. Jonker, Vegters teen Politieke Boelies. 'n Ander Perspektief op die Politiek Rondom 1994 (Pretoria: Griffel, 2009), 8.

^45. H. Giliomee, ‘Broedertwis: Intra-Afrikaner Conflicts in the Transition from Apartheid’, African Affairs, 91 (1992), 351–352.

^46. De Villiers, PW, 180.

^47. L. Wessels, Vereeniging. Die Onvoltooide Vrede (Cape Town: Umuzi, 2010), 170.

^48. Jonker, Vegters teen Politieke boelies, 36–39; Interviews with Schalk Pienaar, 20 March 2012, Pretoria; Dr F. Hartzenberg, 29 March 2012; Koos van der Merwe, 3 February 2012; Prof. A. Bartlett, 22 February 2012; Mrs S. Prinsloo, 29 July 2012.

^49. The Star, 2 November 1983.

^50. UFS, ACA, A.P. Treurnicht collection, File 2/15/5/1, Treurnicht – Oom Koos, 5 November 1983.

^51. Patriot, 30 April 1993; Sunday Times, 29 May 1988.

^52. Interview with Koos van der Merwe, 3 February 2012, Pretoria.

^53. Interview with Koos van der Merwe, 3 February 2012, Pretoria; Slabbert, Afrikaner, Afrikaan, 49–50.

^54. Pottinger, The Imperial Presidency, 168, 180–181.

^55. Sunday Times, 23 August 1987.

^56. Beeld, 19 September 1988; 26 July 1989; 2 August 1989; Sunday Times, 23 August 1987; 28 August 1988; 3 September 1989.

^57. C. Charney, ‘Class Conflict and the National Party Split’, Journal of Southern African Studies, 10, 2 (1984), 279.

^58. Giliomee, ‘Broedertwis: Intra-Afrikaner Conflicts’, 363.

^59. O'Meara, Forty Lost Years, 312, 401.

^60. Beeld, 8 September 1989.

^61. Treurnicht, Noodlottige Hervorming, 50.

^62. Richard, Moedswillig die Uwe, 164–165; F.W. de Klerk, F.W. de Klerk: The Man in his Time (Johannesburg: Jonathan Ball, 1991), 111–112.

^63. L. Rabe, Rykie.'n Lewe met Woorde (Cape Town: Tafelberg, 2011), 81.

^64. A. Ries and E. Dommisse, Broedertwis. Die Verhaal van die 1982 – Skeuring in die Nasionale Party (Cape Town: Tafelberg, 1982), 159.

^65. De Klerk, The Last Trek, 82.

^66. Koos Van der Merwe's notes of the events of 24 February 1982. (In Van der Merwe's possession.)

^67. UFS, ACA, Louis Stofberg Collection, File 1, Treurnicht – Stofberg, 16 October 1969.

^68. L. Wessels, Die Einde van 'n Era. Die Bevryding van 'n Afrikaner (Cape Town: Tafelberg, 1994), 23.

^69. Die Transvaler, 12 May 1983.

^70. UFS, ACA, A.P. Treurnicht collection, File 2/15/10/1, Marais – Treurnicht, 22 January 1983, 18 and 23 February 1983; 6 and 13 September 1983; File 2/15/10/2, Marais – Treurnicht, 21 August 1985.

^71. UFS, ACA, A.P. Treurnicht collection, File 2/15/10/4, Treurnicht – Marais, 12 January 1987.

^72. UFS, ACA, A.P. Treurnicht collection, File 2/15/1/2, Treurnicht – Editor of Die Burger, 25 August 1986. and the editor of Rapport, 19 August 1986. File 2/15/4/1/2, Treurnicht – Barend du Plesis, 3 July 1990; File 2/15/8/1. Treurnicht – Louis, 26 May 1983.

^73. UFS, ACA, A.P. Treurnicht collection, File 2/15/5/1, Treurnicht – Martha, 22 September 1988.

^74. J.H. van der Merwe, ‘'n Evaluasie van die Konserwatiewe Party se Eerste Vyf bestaansjare en 'n Toekomsvisie’ (An evaluation of the Conservative Party’ first five years and a vision for the future), August 1987 (in the possession of Van der Merwe); Interview with Koos van der Merwe, 3 February 2012, Pretoria.

^75. Interviews with Koos Botha, 27 October 2011, Pretoria; and Koos van der Merwe, 3 February 2012, Pretoria.

^76. J.H. van der Merwe, ‘'n Evaluasie van die Konserwatiewe Party se Eerste Vyf bestaansjare en 'n Toekomsvisie’ (in Van der Merwe's possession).

^77. Interviews with Koos van der Merwe, 3 February 2012, Pretoria; and Schalk Pienaar, 20 March 2012, Pretoria.

^78. F. Pretorius (ed.), Geskiedenis van Suid-Afrika. Van Voortye tot Vandag (Cape Town: Tafelberg, 2012), 393, 400–401.

^79. F. Van Zyl Slabbert, The Last White Parliament (Johannesburg: Jonathan Ball, 1985), 185–189.

^80. Interview with Koos van der Merwe, 3 February 2012, Pretoria.

^81. T. Papenfus, Pik Botha en sy Tyd (Pretroria: Litra, 2010), 199.

^82. UFS, ACA, A.P. Treurnicht collection, File 2/16/2/1, newspaper clipping.

^83. Beeld, 13 December 1975.

^84. Giliomee, ‘Survival in Justice’, 539, 546.

^85. Van Rooyen, Hard Right, 178–179.

^86. Beeld, 1 September 1989.

^87. Beeld, 10 August and 24 August 1989.

^88. W.D. Beukes (ed.), Oor Grense Heen. Op Pad na 'n Nasionale Pers (Cape Town: Nasionale Boekhandel, 1992), 99, 102, 104, 315, 322.

^89. A. Grundlingh, ‘“Are we Afrikaners Getting Too Rich?” Conucopia and Change in Afrikanerdom in the 1960s’, Journal of Historical Sociology, 21, 2/3 (2008), 148–153, 158–159; Welsh, The Rise and Fall of Apartheid, 83, 173, 204–207.

^90. Giliomee, The Afrikaners, 554–555.

^91. Grundlingh, ‘Are we Afrikaners Getting Too Rich?’, 153–157.

^92. For the alienation of the Afrikaner youth see K. Kombuis, Seks, Drugs en Boeremusiek. Die Memoires van 'n Volksverraaier (Cape Town: Human & Rousseau, 2000) and his Die Tyd van die Kombi's. 'n Persoonlike Blik op die Afrikaanse Rock-rebellie (Cape Town: Human & Rousseau, 2009), as well as Chris Louw's Boetman en die Swanesang van die Verligtes (Cape Town: Human & Rousseau, 2001).

^93. Interview with Prof. A. Bartlett, 22 February 2012, Pretoria.

^94. Correspondence with Schalk Pienaar, 22 August 2012.

^95. UFS, ACA, A.P. Treurnicht collection, File 2/15/5/1, Treurnicht – Martha, 22 September 1988.

^96. Pottinger, The Imperial Presidency, 446; Beeld, 1 March 1988.

^97. A. van der Merwe, Eugene Terre'Blanche: My Storie (Cape Town: Griffel Media, 2010), 69–76.

^98. Die Burger 19 May 1987; and Beeld, 4 and 12 March 1988; 16 April 1988.

^99. Van Rooyen, Hard Right, 105.

^100. UFS, ACA, A.P. Treurnicht collection, File 2/15/4/1/1, N.A. Maxwell – Treurnicht, 24 November 1986.

^101. Sunday Times, 17 January 1987.

^102. UFS, ACA, A.P. Treurnicht collection, File 2/15/10/1, C. Boshoff – Treurnicht, 7 November 1989.

^103. Jonker, Vegters teen Politieke Boelies, 159; C. Boshoff, Dis Nou Ek (Pretoria: LAPA, 2012), 252, 427.

^104. Sunday Times, 22 August 1988.

^105. Giliomee, The Last Leaders, 302–303, 315.

^106. Beeld, 3 February 1990; Rapport, 3 May 1992.

^107. Jonker, Vegters teen Politieke Boelies, 117–118, 120–122, 124; Van Rooyen, Hard Right, 187–193.

^108. Interview with Prof. A. Bartlett, 22 February 2012, Pretoria.

^109. UFS, ACA, A.P. Treurnicht collection, File 2/15/4/1/2, Treurnicht – Barend du Plesis, 3 July 1990; Welsh, The Rise and Fall of Apartheid, 435.

^110. Beeld, 13 February 1990, 6 April 1990 and 26 September 1990.

^111. A. Sparks, Tomorrow is Another Country. The Inside Story of South Africa's Negotiated Revolution, (Johannesburg: Struik, 1995), 199; Sunday Times, 25 April 1993.

^112. Van der Merwe, Eugene Terre'Blanche, 92–95.

^113. Beeld, 10 and 12 August 1991.

^114. Rapport, 3 May 1992.

^115. Z.B. Du Toit, Die Nuwe Toekoms. 'n Perspektief op die Afrikaner by die Eeuwisseling (Pretoria: JP van der Walt, 1999), 77–79; Rapport, 22 March 1992; 3 May 1992.

^116. Beeld, 3 February 1990; Rapport, 3 May 1992.

^117. Jonker, Vegters teen Politieke Boelies, 121–122.

^118. Interview with Koos van der Merwe, 3 February 2012, Pretoria.

^119. Beeld, 10 August 1992; Rapport, 22 March 1992; 23 April 1993. J.H. van der Merwe, ‘Strategie vir ‘n Veranderde Situasie’ (in the possession of Koos van der Merwe).

^120. Jonker, Vegters teen Politieke Boelies, 123, 127–129, 130–131, 152–153.

^121. Beeld, 20 February 1990.

^122. Interview with Dr F. Hartzenberg, 29 March 2012.

^123. Jonker, Vegters teen Politieke Boelies, 162; Correspondence with Schalk Pienaar, 27 February 2012.

^124. Sunday Times, 1 March 1992.

^125. Beeld, 22 February; 11, 14, 16 and 19 March 1992.

^126. Van Rooyen, Hard Right, 152.

^127. Rapport, 3 and 24 May 1992; Beeld, 26 February 1992.

^128. Van Rooyen, Hard Right, 108; Beeld, 13 and 15 August 1992.

^129. Die Transvaler, 27 March 1992; Rapport, 22 March 1992.

^130. Beeld, 11 August 1992; Rapport, 29 March and 3 May 1992; Z.B. Du Toit, ‘Patetiese Verhaal van Dr A.P. en die KP’, Insig, September 1992, 29; Interview with Koos Botha, 27 October 2011, Pretoria.

^131. The Citizen, 3 April 1992.

^132. Rapport, 3 May 1992.

^133. Beeld, 14 and 15 August 1992; Rapport, 23 August 1992.

^134. Jonker, Vegters teen Politieke Boelies, 176.

^135. Van Rooyen, Hard Right, 169.

^136. Sunday Times, 7 March 1993: Jonker, Vegters teen Politieke Boelies, 193.

^137. Correspondence with Schalk Pienaar, 21 February 2012.

^138. Correspondence with Schalk Pienaar, 27 February 2012, and interviews with Prof. A. Bartlett, 22 February 2012, Pretoria; and Dr Harzenberg, 29 March 2012.

^139. The Citizen, 24 April 1993.

^140. Beeld, 28 April 1993.

^141. Du Toit, Die Nuwe Toekoms, 80.