B. J. Vorster President

Balthazar Johannes Vorster (Afrikaans pronunciation: [ˈbɐltɑːzɐr joə̯ˈhɐnəs ˈforstər]; 13 December 1915 – 10 September 1983), better known as John Vorster, served as the Prime Minister of South Africa from 1966 to 1978 and as the fourth State President of South Africa from 1978 to 1979. Vorster was known for his staunch adherence to apartheid, overseeing as Minister of Justice the Rivonia Trial in which Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment for sabotage, and as Prime Minister the Terrorism Act, the complete abolishment of non-white political representation, the Soweto Riots and the Steve Biko crisis. He conducted a more pragmatic foreign policy than his predecessors in an effort to improve relations between the white minority government and South Africa's neighbours, particularly after the break-up of the Portuguese colonial empire. Shortly after the Internal Settlement in Rhodesia, in which he was instrumental, he was implicated in the Muldergate Scandal and resigned the premiership in favour of the ceremonial presidency, which he was forced to give up as well eight months later.

Personal facts

Birth date	December 13, 1915
Birth place	Eastern Cape , Cape Province , South Africa , Uitenhage
Religion	Dutch Reformed Church
Date of death	September 10, 1983
Place of death	Cape Town , Cape Province , South Africa
Education	Stellenbosch University