About this site

This resource is hosted by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, but was compiled and authored by Padraig O’Malley. It is the product of almost two decades of research and includes analyses, chronologies, historical documents, and interviews from the apartheid and post-apartheid eras.

De Beer, Samuel Johannes (Sam)

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Sam de Beer was born in 1944 in Johannesburg. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Divinity (Theology) from the University of Pretoria. He became involved in student activities, including the Afrikaanse Studentebond, and served on its National Executive from 1965 to 1967.

De Beer was Chair of the Culture Board of Springs from 1972 to 1974. He became a Minister of Divinity of the Dutch Reformed Church, Magaliesburg, and then in Springs from 1969 to 1974. He was actively engaged in community activities and served on several committees and councils. He was also a member of the Peri-Urban Council for Magaliesburg in 1971. He became a Member of Parliament for Geduld in 1974. From 1982 to 1984 he served as the Senior Transvaal Whip for the National Party (NP), and chaired the East Rand National Party, and Mineral and Energy Study group from 1983 to 1984. He was appointed Deputy Minister of Education and Development Aid from 1984 to 1989 and was Leader of the government delegation on the National Peace Committee. He appeared on various committees including the Commission of Inquiry into the Mixed Marriages Act, Immorality Act, the Select Committee appointed to investigate the Matrimonial Property Act, and Executive Foreign Affairs Study Group from 1983 to 1984.

De Beer served as Minister of Education and Training and was responsible for the Office of the Commission for Administration in 1993-94, and National Housing in 1992-93.

De Beer also served in affairs relating to Welfare, Housing and Works, and the Budget from 1989 to 1991. He was appointed National Party (NP) member to the National Assembly of democratic South Africa from 1994 to 1998 and became the Gauteng Leader of the National Party (NP) from 1997 to 1998. In 1998 he joined the United Democratic Movement and served as an MP under that ticket. He has subsequently crossed the floor and now serves as a member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature for the ANC.

This resource is hosted by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, but was compiled and authored by Padraig O’Malley. Return to theThis resource is hosted by the site.