President Thabo Mbeki has expressed his condolences to the family of former state president Marais Viljoen, who passed away on Thursday.
Mbeki expressed his condolences to Viljoen’s daughter, Elna Meyers, and his grandson on behalf of the government and the people of South Africa, his office said.
Viljoen, who was the country’s state president between 1979 and 1984, before PW Botha was elected to the post, died in the Muelmed Hospital in Pretoria due to heart failure. He was 91.
Meyers said it was likely that the funeral would take place on January 13, although final arrangements were still being made. It would not be a full state funeral but there would be some state involvement.
Viljoen was born on a farm near Robertson in the Cape on December 2, 1915. He had a difficult childhood and was orphaned at the age of four. Due to a lack of money he was forced to leave school before matriculating, but later finished his matric through private study.
He started his career at the Post Office, working as a telegraphist. He later became a reporter for Die Transvaler, a newspaper edited by HF Verwoerd, also the man who later gave him his first cabinet position.
In 1940 he married Marietjie Viljoen. She died in 2005 after a short illness.
”My father was devastated by her death and his health deteriorated since,” Meyers said on Friday.
In 1953 he was elected to Parliament and in 1958 became the deputy minister of labour and mines.
Viljoen was president of the Senate from 1976 until he was elected as state president.
Although actively supporting the National Party’s policy of apartheid, he was seen as a moderate within the party.
”My father was not as combative as others he was more diplomatic and tried to build relationships,” Meyers said.
She said although her father retired from politics in 1984 when PW Botha became state president, he was always fascinated by politics up to his death. He also enjoyed reading.
Viljoen is survived by his daughter and grandson. — Sapa