Balthazar Johannes Vorster

Vorster, Balthazar Johannes (1915–83), South African political leader and prime minister (1966–78). On the right of the Nationalist Party, he was in charge of education (1958–61) and minister of justice (1961–66), responsible for some of the most repressive of the apartheid laws. He sought later to improve relations with black Africa. Elected president in 1978, he resigned in 1979 after being accused of false testimony on expenditure of government funds.

See also: South Africa.