The Republic of South Africa inaugurated its first state president in 1961, following a parliamentary election that replaced the monarch and the governor-general. Charles Robberts Swart, previously the last governor-general of the Union of South Africa, held this newly created ceremonial office until his retirement in 1967.
Early Development and Legal Practice
Born on 5 December 1894 on the Morgenzon farm in the Winburg district, Swart was the third of six children. During the Second Boer War, he and his family were held in the Winburg concentration camp. He attended government school before transitioning to a Christian National Education institution. By 1914, he established himself as a barrister, eventually practicing law in Bloemfontein between 1919 and 1948.
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Swart entered the House of Assembly in 1923 as the Member of Parliament for Ladybrand, serving until his 1938 defeat. He later returned to parliament in 1941 as the member for Winburg, having become the leader of the National Party in the Orange Free State. Following the 1948 general election, he was appointed Minister of Justice, where he enacted legislation to increase police powers. From 1949 to 1950, he served as Minister of Education, Arts and Science, and from 1954 to 1959, he held the position of Deputy Prime Minister.
The Transition to Republic
Appointed Governor-General in 1959, Swart presided over the transition to a republican system. Parliament subsequently elected him as the first state president. His tenure was marked by the suppression of opposition to the constitutional changes. He retired in 1967 and received the Decoration for Meritorious Services from his successor, Jim Fouché, prior to his death in Bloemfontein on 16 July 1982.
Fast facts
- Born: 5 December 1894, Winburg
- Died: 16 July 1982, Bloemfontein
- Height: 200 centimetres
- Spouse: Cornelia Wilhelmina de Klerk
- Governor-General: 1959–1961
- State President: 1961–1967
Questions readers ask
What was the significance of the Fidel Castro Building?
It was previously known as the President CR Swart Building in Bloemfontein, which housed various government departments and the University of the Free State Law Faculty.
Why was Swart nicknamed Blackie?
The nickname refers to his surname, as swart is the Afrikaans word for black.
