Piet Marais | |
|---|---|
| House of Assembly | |
| Assembly Member forStellenbosch | |
| In office 1982–1994 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Pieter Gabriel Marais Stellenbosch,Cape Province Union of South Africa |
| Died | (2001-12-28)28 December 2001 Stellenbosch,Western Cape Republic of South Africa |
| Political party | National Party |
Pieter Gabriel Marais (died 28 December 2001) was a South African politician who served as the lastMinister of Education of theapartheid era. He represented theNational Party (NP) in theHouse of Assembly from 1982 to 1994, serving theStellenbosch constituency, and went on to represent the NP in thefirst democratic Parliament from 1994 until his retirement in 1999.
Marais entered the House of Assembly in a by-election in 1982 and served as MP for his hometown, Stellenbosch.[1] He was a member of the NP's progressiveverligte ("enlightened") caucus, which supported reforming the apartheid system.[1][2] Under PresidentF. W. de Klerk, he served as minister forwhite education during thedemocratic transition, and in that capacity he was involved in constitutional negotiations.[1]
In the1994 general election, Marais was elected to represent the NP in the newNational Assembly,[3] though he was transferred to theNational Council of Provinces during the legislative term.[1][4] He was the NP's lead negotiator in negotiations on the education clause of the1996 Constitution,[5] and he also served as an adviser to NP leaderMarthinus van Schalkwyk.[1] He retired from politics in 1999 and died on 28 December 2001 in Stellenbosch, several weeks after being diagnosed withliver cancer.[1]
He was married to Annatjie Marais, with whom he had three children.[1]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Minister of Education 1992–1994 | Succeeded by |