Pieter de Lange

Pieter de Lange
Chairman of the Afrikaner Broederbond
In office
1984–1994
Preceded by Boshoff, C.W.H.
Succeeded by de Beer, T.L.
Rector of the Randse Afrikaanse Universiteit
In office
1979–1987
Preceded by Viljoen, G.vN.
Succeeded by Crouse, C.F.
Personal details
Born Jan Pieter de Lange
(1926-02-27) 27 February 1926
Fort Beaufort , Cape Province, South Africa
Nationality South African
Spouse(s) Christine
Alma mater University of Pretoria, Randse Afrikaanse Universiteit and University of South Africa
Known for Education and negotiator

Jan Pieter de Lange (born 27 February 1926), was a South African Educationalist, chairman of The Afrikaner Broederbond and a negotiator.

Roots and education

He was born in Fort Beaufort, Cape Province, South Africa. He attended Aberdeen High School in Aberdeen and Gill College in Somerset East. De Lange studied at the University of Pretoria, obtaining BA (law) and BEd. After graduating from the University of South Africa with a BA, he obtained a MEd and PhD at the Randse Afrikaanse Universiteit.[1]

Working life

He was Vice-Rector at Goudstad College of Education, in Johannesburg (1967-1968) and Rector of the Potchefstroom College of Education(1969), in Potchefstroom. Both these institution does not exist today after the rationalisation under the then Minister of Education Kadar Asmal.[1] In 1979 he became Rector of Randse Afrikaanse Universiteit. He held this position until 1979.[2] After his academic career, he became chairman of the HSRC Board (1988-1995).[3]

Broederbond

He was chairman of the Afrikaner Broederbond, a white, male Afrikaner secret organization from 1984 until 1994, when Tom de Beer took over from him.[4]

Involvement through his career

De Lange had been involved in the Education system in South Africa. Firstly for being at the head of educational colleges in Potchefstroom and Johannesburg and then being the rector of a university. In August 1980 the government instructed the HSRC to conduct an investigation into all levels of education. Prof de Lange was the chairman. His report was issued in July 1981. The main conclusion from his report is that all education should be equal, irrespective of race and a single ministry should handle it.[5][6]

As leader of the Afrikaner Broederbond he played a role in the negotiated settlement reached in South Africa in 1994. In 1985 the de Lange realised that change needed to take place regarding the Apartheid system. The National Party government did not talk openly with the ANC.(It was then still banned) On 8 June 1986 de Lange and Thabo Mbeki (from the ANC) met in New York for a meeting. The meeting’s duration was 5 hours. After this meeting other events followed by like-minded people for example Dakar[7]. He also made statements that showed that the Afrikaner Broederbond was in agreement that the politics in South Africa should change. [8]De Lange issued a discussion document to all members in which he state that a negotiated settlement with a full democracy , was the only way out. [9] [10]

Publication

  • The de Lange Commission report[11]

References

  1. 1 2 "de Lange , Jan Pieter". nelsonmandela.org. Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  2. ↑ "About the University of Johannesburg". South Africa Study. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  3. ↑ Moodie, G.C. (1994). "The state and the liberal universities in South Africa: 1948–1990". Klawer Academic Publishers.
  4. ↑ "100 jr - Bondsraad gedenkblad".
  5. ↑ Hartshorne, K.B. (March 1985). "The state of education in South Africa" (PDF). South African journal of science. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  6. ↑ "General South African History Timeline: 1980s". SAHO.
  7. ↑ Savage, M. "A chronology of meetings between South Africans and the ANC in exile 1983-2000". SAHO. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  8. ↑ "A Secret Society of Afrikaners Helps to Dismantle Apartheid". The New York Times newspaper. 1990. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  9. ↑ du Preez, M. (30 January 2015). "FW de Klerk's 'quantum leap': Did he jump or was he pushed?". Mail& Guardian newspaper. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  10. ↑ Sparks, A. (16 March 1987). "Afrikaner group seeks out blacks". The Washington Post newspaper. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  11. ↑ "HSRC investigation into education –de Lange committee report on". HSRC. 1981. ISBN 9780869658871.
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