Alwyn Louis Schlebusch (16 September 1917 – 7 January 2008) was a South African politician, the only holder of the title Vice State President of South Africa from 1 January 1982 to 14 September 1984. He was an Afrikaner with a surname of German origin. He was born in Lady Grey, Eastern Cape. He was the son of Charel Johannes Schlebusch and Elizabeth Cornelia Myburgh and eldest brother of Charel Johannes Schlebusch, Elsie Cornelia Schlebusch and Anna Christina Schlebusch.

Career

Schlebusch was appointed chair of the eponymous

Schlebusch Commission The Schlebusch Commission was a parliamentary commission established in 1972 by the South African government of Prime Minister BJ Vorster to investigate four anti-apartheid civil society organizations."Beyers Naude." ''News24.com.'' 7 September 2 ...

in 1972, which had the power to cut foreign funding and seize the assets of anti-apartheid organizations, such as the

Christian Institute of Southern Africa The Christian Institute of Southern Africa was an ecumenical progressive organisation founded by English and Afrikaans clergy in December 1963 to unite South African Christians against apartheid. The CI became deeply involved with black activists ...

. The position of Vice State President was created when the

Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

was abolished in 1981. During his tenure, Schlebusch chaired the President's Council, which advised on the creation of a new constitution. The post was abolished when the new constitution came into effect, replacing the ceremonial post of State President with an executive

State President The State President of the Republic of South Africa ( af, Staatspresident) was the head of state of South Africa from 1961 to 1994. The office was established when the country became a republic on 31 May 1961, albeit, outside the Commonweal ...

, with only provision for an Acting State President. Before holding the post, Schlebusch was mayor of Hennenman in the 1940s, before being elected to the House of Assembly as MP for Kroonstad from 1962 to 1980, Minister of Public Works and Immigration in 1976, and Minister of Justice and Internal Affairs in 1979. Schlebusch succeeded Jimmy Kruger in the portfolio and was viewed as a considerably more moderate figure, notably he was instrumental in compelling the Pretoria Bar Association to admit black lawyers. Subsequently, he held the position of Minister in the Office of the President in 1986. He died on 7 January 2008. He was survived by a son and two daughters, 14 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. His wife, Isabel, died in 1996 of cancer. She founded the "Toktokkie" cancer campaign in South Africa.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Schlebusch, Alwyn 1917 births 2008 deaths Afrikaner people Chancellors of the University of Pretoria South African people of German descent University of Pretoria alumni Justice ministers of South Africa Speakers of the House of Assembly (South Africa) Ministers of Home Affairs of South Africa