Die Transvaler was a South African newspaper founded in 1937 with the aim of promoting Afrikaner nationalism and supporting the Transvaal branch of the National Party.[1] Hendrik Verwoerd was its first editor.[2]

Die Transvaler
TypeDaily newspaper
Owner(s)Voortrekkerpers
PublisherVoortrekkerpers
EditorHendrik Verwoerd
Founded1937
Political alignmentAfrikaner nationalism
LanguageAfrikaans
Ceased publication1987
HeadquartersJohannesburg

History edit

On 1 October 1937, Nasionale Pers set up the company Voortrekkerpers in the Transvaal to support the National Party in Transvaal by publishing Die Transvaler.[3]: 411 [4] Initially the Cape National Party tried to control the extremism of the National Party in the Transvaal by appointing Hendrik Verwoerd as the papers first editor but he would side with Transvaal branch and Nationale Pers gave up editorial control in 1939.[3]: 411 

Editors edit

Source:[4]

  • H.F. Verwoerd (1937-1948)
  • J.J. Kruger (1948-1960)
  • G.D. Sholtz (1960-1968)
  • C.F. Nöffke (1969-1973)
  • Willem Johannes de Klerk (1973-1987)[5]

During World War II, Die Transvaler had triumphantly headlined every Nazi victory and constantly attacked "British Jewish liberalism." In 1943, Verwoerd sued the English-language newspaper The Star for libel after it accused him of being a Nazi propagandist. In his judgment dismissing the case, Justice Mallin stated that Verwoerd "did support Nazi propaganda; he did make his newspaper a tool of the Nazis in South Africa, and he knew it."[6]

References edit

  1. ^ Fourie, Pieter Jacobus (2001). Media Studies: Institutions, theories, and issues. Juta and Company Ltd. ISBN 9780702156557.
  2. ^ Anonymous (17 February 2011). "Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd". South African History Online. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  3. ^ a b Davies, Rob; O'Meara, Dan; Dlamini, Sipho (1984). The Struggle for South Africa. Vol. 2. London: Zed Books. ISBN 0862322561 – via Internet Archive.
  4. ^ a b Standard encyclopaedia of Southern Africa / 10 Sle - Tun. Internet Archive. Cape Town: Nasou. 1974. p. 615. ISBN 978-0-625-00326-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  5. ^ "BIOGRAFIESE SKETSE VAN MEDIAMENSE – Mediamense" (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  6. ^ "SOUTH AFRICA: God's Man". Time. 15 September 1958. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 4 February 2024.