Lodewicus du Plessis

He was born on 10 February 1897 at Burgersdorp, Cape Province, South Africa.[1] He was the son of Jacobus Albertus du Plessis and Laurika Postma. He married Engela Susanna van der Merwe on 12 January 1926. He died on 19 February 1968 at Potchefstroom, Transvaal, South Africa.[2]

Du Plessis matriculated in 1912 on Potchefstroom Gimnasium. He received his BA, BA Hons (Classical languages) and MA (Classical languages) at the University of Pretoria.[3] Later he also received a master's degree in Economics, as well as a LLB (law degree).[4]

In 1918 he started as a senior lecturer in Classical languages at The Theological Centre of the Reformed Church in Potchefstroom. After obtaining the economics and law qualifications, he was offered a professorship in economics, political science and ethics at the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education. In later years he focused on law. He was secretary of the commission who translated the Bible in Afrikaans and was Totius advisor.[5]

He was an alternative Calvinist, in the sense that he believed that only Calvinism is not the answer. He was open to a combination of Calvinism, Marxism and other possible beliefs.[6]

He was actively participating in Afrikaner politics, although he never stood for office. He was chairman of the Afrikaner Broederbond from 1930-1932.[7] He was not scared to differ from political leaders such as J.B.M. Hertzog, DF Malan and J. G. Strijdom. His biggest clash was with H.F. Verwoerd, which caused him to be expelled from the National Party. Then, he also left the Afrikaner Broederbond. He was not in favour of Verwoerd's racial policy and his definition of an Afrikaner.[8]