Daniel Malan

1874- 1959

South African Politician

South African politician Daniel Malan was trained as a clergyman. He was a pastor of the Dutch Reformed Church until World War I, at which time he became an editor of an Afrikaaner Nationalist newspaper.

In 1918, he became a Nationalist member of the South African Parliament. He served in the government of J.B.M. Hertzog from 1924-33 in a number of positions.

From 1940, he was head of the Nationalist Party. As Prime Minister (1948 - 54), Malan was a strong proponent of apartheid. Under his regime, South Africa was divided into separate White, Black and Colored areas.