Jim Fouché

Born in the Boer republic of the Orange Free State in 1898, (which became a British colony in 1902 and a province of the Union of South Africa in 1910) and matriculated at Paarl Boys' High School.

Fouché was a successful farmer. A staunch republican, he was a member of the National Party for many years, first being elected to the House of Assembly as MP for Smithfield from 1941 to 1950, and as MP for Bloemfontein West between 1960 and 1968.

Fouché served as Administrator of the Orange Free State from 1950 to 1959, and was then promoted to the Cabinet, where he served as Minister of Defence from 14 December 1959 to 1 April 1966[2] and as Minister of Agricultural Technical Services and Water Affairs from 1966 to 1968. He was elected State President in place of Dr Eben Dönges (who had been elected, but died before he could take office), and served as ceremonial head of state from 1968 to 1975. He was the first State President to complete a full term in office, and the only until Nelson Mandela in 1999, as well as having the longest presidency to date (subsequently surpassed by Thabo Mbeki, on 14 June 2006, and Jacob Zuma, on 8 May 2016). He remains the longest single-term president.

Fouché married Letta Rhoda ('Lettie') McDonald. They had two children.

He is depicted on the following coins of the South African rand;

1976 1/2 Cent to 50 Cents.