Every South African Prime Minister from 1919 to 1978 attended the same university
For six decades, every single South African Prime Minister was an alumnus of the prestigious Stellenbosch University in the Western Cape.
The origin of the university can be traced back to the Stellenbosch Gymnasium, which was founded in 1864 and opened on 1 March 1866.
In 1881, it was officially renamed Stellenbosch College. In 1887, to mark Queen Victoria’s Jubilee, it was renamed Victoria College.
Initially, the South African government planned only one university for the Cape. However, things changed after a visit from Victoria College.
It was decided that if Victoria College could raise £100,000, it would become the second university in the Cape.
Jannie Marais, a wealthy Stellenbosch farmer, bequeathed the money required before his death in 1915.
When it acquired university status on 2 April 1918, Victoria College was renamed to Stellenbosch University.
The prestigious university had close links to the government and was a bastion of Afrikaner nationalism.
Between 1919 and 1978, every South African Prime Minister, the executive head of government, was an alumnus of Stellenbosch University.
Jan Smuts (1919–1924; 1939–1948)
Jan Smuts attended the university when it was still known as Victoria College. He was a brilliant student who graduated with a double first in Literature and Science.
J.B.M. Hertzog (1924–1939)
J.B.M. Hertzog also attended Victoria College, where he completed his Bachelor of Arts before pursuing his law studies in the Netherlands.
D.F. Malan (1948–1954)
D.F. Malan was a student at Victoria College, where he earned his B.A. and M.A. degrees. He later served as the Chancellor of Stellenbosch University.
J.G. Strijdom (1954–1958)
J.G. Strijdom attended Victoria College and obtained a B.A. degree there before moving on to study law at the University of Pretoria.
Hendrik Verwoerd (1958–1966)
Hendrik Verwoerd earned his undergraduate and doctoral degrees at Stellenbosch University. He later became a Professor of Applied Psychology and, eventually, the Chair of Sociology and Social Work at the university.
John Vorster (1966–1978)
John Vorster studied law at Stellenbosch University and was actively involved in student politics. He later served as the university’s Chancellor.
P.W. Botha (1978–1989)
Although P.W. Botha did not study at Stellenbosch University, he served as the university’s chancellor.
F.W. de Klerk (1989-1994)
F.W. de Klerk received an honorary doctorate in Philosophy, D.Phil, from the University of Stellenbosch.
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