Hennie Bekker (politician) explained

Party:	Inkatha Freedom Party (since 1994)
Citizenship:	South Africa
Spouse:	Gerda Bekker
Office:	National Assembly of South Africa
Termstart:	23 April 2004
Termend:	May 2009
Termend1:	March 2003
Termstart1:	May 1994
Birth Date:	7 July 1942
Birth Name:	Hendrik Jacobus Bekker
Office2:	Member of the House of Assembly
Termstart2:	1987
Termend2:	1994
Otherparty:	National Party (until 1994)

Hendrik Jacobus "Hennie" Bekker (born 7 July 1942) is a South African politician who served in the Parliament of South Africa from 1987 to 2009, excepting a brief hiatus in the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature from 2003 to 2004. He represented the National Party (NP) until the end of apartheid in 1994, after which he joined the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP).

Early career

Bekker was born on 7 July 1942 and is from present-day Gauteng.^[1] He has a doctorate in business administration from the unaccredited Almeda University.^[2] Between 1964 and 1981, he worked in corporate banking and business, including at Sanlam.

In 1981, he launched his political career with the National Party (NP), which governed South Africa during apartheid; he initially served as a Member of the Provincial Council in the Transvaal and then joined Parliament in 1987, representing a constituency in the Transvaal.^[3] During the democratic transition, he, alongside Derek Keys, represented the NP on the transitional economic council from 1993.

Post-apartheid political career: 1994–2009

Ahead of South Africa's first post-apartheid elections in 1994, Bekker left the NP to join the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), a majority Zulu party.^[4] Under the IFP banner, he was elected to a seat in the new National Assembly.^[5] He was re-elected to his legislative seat the next general election in 1999^[6] and also served as the IFP's economic spokesperson.^[7] In March 2003, he resigned from the National Assembly to join the IFP's caucus in the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature,^[8] though he returned to the National Assembly for a final term after the 2004 general election.^[9] He also retained several private business interests.

Personal life

Bekker is married to politician Gerda Bekker, with whom he has three children and several grandchildren.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Pressly . Donwald . 4 March 2003 . Musical chairs for IFP MPs . 2023-04-09 . News24 . en-US.
2. Web site: Dr Hennie Bekker . 2023-04-09 . Chartered Governance Institute of Southern Africa.
3. Web site: 1990-09-25 . Wooing White Loyalty After Apartheid's Fall . 2023-04-09 . Los Angeles Times . en-US.
4. Book: Bekker, Gerda . Living on the political edge: Villain or maverick? A biography of controversial politics . Bekker . 2014 . 9780994153104.
5. Book: South Africa: Campaign and Election Report April 26–29, 1994 . . 1994 . 13 April 2023 . Yumpu.
6. 11 June 1999 . General Notice: Notice 1319 of 1999 – Electoral Commission: Representatives Elected to the Various Legislatures . . Pretoria, South Africa . . 408 . 20203 . 26 March 2021.
7. Web site: 2007-09-26 . IFP welcomes plans for Richards Bay harbour . 2023-04-09 . The Mail & Guardian . en-ZA.
8. Web site: Pressly . Donwald . 12 March 2004 . IFP lists its top contenders . 2023-04-09 . News24 . en-US.
9. 20 April 2004 . General Notice: Notice 717 of 2004 - Electoral Commission – List of Names of Representatives in the National Assembly and the Nine Provincial Legislatures in Respect of the Elections Held on 14 April 2004 . . Pretoria, South Africa . . 466 . 2677 . 4–95 . 26 March 2021.