Wynand Boshoff

Wynand Johannes Boshoff (born 26 May 1970) is a South African academic and politician from the Northern Cape serving as a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa for the Freedom Front Plus (FF+) since 2019. He has been serving as the Provincial Leader of the FF+ since 2015. He previously served as a municipal councillor of the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality from 2016 to 2019. Boshoff is the grandson of the assassinated apartheid-era Prime Minister of South Africa, Hendrik Verwoerd, who served from 1958 until 1966, and the son of Afrikaner enclave Orania founder, Carel Boshoff.[2][3]

Wynand Boshoff

MP
Member of the National Assembly of South Africa
Assumed office
22 May 2019
Personal details
Born
Wynand Johannes Boshoff[1]

(1970-05-26) 26 May 1970
Pretoria, Transvaal, South Africa
NationalitySouth African
Political partyFreedom Front Plus (2011–present)
Spouse(s)Esme Maritz
RelationsHendrik Verwoerd (grandfather)
Children5
ParentsCarel Boshoff (father)
Anna Verwoerd (mother)
Alma materUniversity of the Free State
University of Pretoria

Early life and education

Boshoff was born in Pretoria in the Transvaal Province as one of the children of Carel Boshoff and Anna Boshoff, daughter of Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd. Verwoerd served as Prime Minister of South Africa (1958–1966) and is described as the "architect of apartheid".[4] Verwoerd was assassinated in 1966 by parliamentary messenger Dimitri Tsafendas.[5][6]

Boshoff matriculated from high school in 1988 and went on to achieve a BA degree in Afrikaans and History at university. He obtained a master's degree in sustainable agriculture from the University of the Free State in 2004 and acquired a PhD in education sciences from the University of Pretoria in 2011. He submitted his doctoral dissertation on "Employability of Successful Matriculants Toward Curriculum Studies and Instructional Design".[7]

Political career

In 2011, he became an ordinary branch member of the Freedom Front Plus, despite vowing in high school that he would never become active in politics. He was soon promoted to the post of Provincial Leader of the FF+ in April 2015. In August 2016, Boshoff became a PR councillor of the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality, centred around the town of Kimberley.[7][8][9]

In May 2019, Boshoff was elected a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa. Media reports revealed that he is a grandchild of Hendrik Verwoerd, which consequently generated criticism of Boshoff. Boshoff responded to the criticism by stating that he wants to be judged by his own merits and not those of his grandfather's.[10][11][12]

Personal life

Boshoff has five children and resides in Orania and Kimberley.[7][8]

References
  1. Verwoerd’s grandson heading to Parliament, dfa, 15 May 2019. Retrieved on 8 September 2019. "Dr Wynand Johannes Boshoff, the grandson of Verwoerd..."
  2. "Don't judge Hendrik Verwoerd's grandson on family connections". Eyewitness News. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  3. Verwoerd's grandson: judge me on my ideals, not my grandfather's, TimesLIVE, 16 May 2019. Retrieved on 8 September 2019.
  4. South African prime minister and architect of apartheid assassinated. Retrieved on 9 September 2019.
  5. Tabane, Rapule. ‘The man who assassinated Verwoerd was not mad’, City Press - News24, 22 November 2018. Retrieved on 8 September 2019.
  6. Daniels, Nicola (15 May 2019). "Do not compare me to my grandfather - Verwoerd's grandson". IOL - Cape Times. Cape Town. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  7. "Dr Wynand Boshoff: Parlementslid en provinsiale leier in die Noord-Kaap" [Dr Wynand Boshoff: Member of Parliament and provincial leader in the Northern Cape] (in Afrikaans). Freedom Front Plus. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  8. Head, Tom. Wynand Boshoff: Newly-elected MP from Orania wants “judging on merit”, The South African, 15 May 2019. Retrieved on 7 September 2019.
  9. Beangstrom, Patsy. ANC retains hold on Kimberley, IOL, 4 August 2019. Retrieved on 7 September 2019.
  10. Verwoerd's grandson will have a seat in Parliament, IOL, 14 May 2019. Retrieved on 7 September 2019.
  11. Verwoerd's grandson on his way to Parliament, News24, 14 May 2019. Retrieved on 7 September 2019.
  12. Sleisho, Kaunda. Verwoerd’s Orania-linked grandson set to become MP, The Citizen, 14 May 2019. Retrieved on 7 September 2019.
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