Hendrik Jacobus Coetsee is born

Jacobus "Kobie" Coetsee, former minister of justice in the government of F.W De Klerk, was born in Ladybrand, Orange Free State. Both his parents were members of the National Party in the Ladybrand local branch. He became actively involved in politics in 1968 when he was elected MP for the Bloemfontein West constituency. As a MP, Coetsee served on various parliamentary committees and commissions. He also held several ministerial positions in the Apartheid regime. In 1978 Coetsee was appointed Deputy Minister of Defence and National Security. In 1980 he became minister of Justice until the 1994 general elections. Coetsee was a member of the National Party government's delegation during the transitional period negotiations with other political parties. After the first democratic elections, Coetsee was elected president of the senate.