FORSTER Balthazar Johannes (Vorster Balthazar Johannes)

(1915-1983), known as John Vorster
Born in Jamestown (Cape Province) December 13, 1915. After graduating from Stellenbosch University, practiced law in Port Elizabeth. During the Second World War was interned for participation in Osseva Brandvag, the underground paramilitary organization, which opposed the entry into the war on the side of Britain.
Forster was elected to Parliament in 1953 to the list of National Party. In 1961, became Minister of Justice, Police and Prisons in the office of Verwoerd. In that position, rigidly pursued a policy of apartheid.

After the assassination of Verwoerd in 1966 the National Party elected Vorster, Prime Minister and party leader. Continuing the policy of apartheid, the government outlawed political parties and granted nominal independence of the two homelands with a black African population. The answer to the mass demonstrations of black people against apartheid began mass arrests and the outlawing virtually all remaining antiaparteidovskih groups in 1977. Trying to establish a friendly regimes of neighboring countries, the government has made military intervention in Angola and has sought to create in the South-West Africa, a regime which would exclude the participation of African leaders.

Vorster resigned in 1978. I received largely ceremonial post of president, but resigned in 1979 owing to charges of making false statements about the secret financing of the government inside the country and abroad, the forces that supported apartheid.

Forster died in Cape Town on September 10, 1983.