Third State President

South Africa · 1975-04-19

Official

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Cachet: SA crest

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DR THE HONOURABLE N. DIEDERICHS Dr Nicolaas Diederichs was born on 17 November 1903 at Ladybrand. He completed his school education at the Boshof High School and later obtained the degrees of B.A. and M.A. with distinction at the Grey University College (now the University of the Orange Free State). He also attended the universities of Munich and Cologne and completed his studies at the University of Leyden taking the degree D. Litt. et Phil. (cum laude). After returning to South Africa he was appointed professor of Political Science and Philosophy at his former university and later became leader of the Reddingsdaad bond and director of the Economic Institute. On 2 July 1932 he married Miss M.J. Potgieter of Bethlehem who had qualified in music at the University of Stellenbosch. Dr Diederichs entered politics in 1948. He was appointed Minister of Economic Affairs in 1958 and from 1961 to 1964 he also served as Minister of Mines. He became Minister of Finance in February 1967 and held this portfolio until his appointment as State President. During his parliamentary career Dr Diederichs served on various committees - among others on the Income-tax and the Public-accounts Committees. He also served on boards of various industrial and financial concerns. He has travelled widely and has written a number of books on various subjects. He is the author of VOM LEIDEN UND DULDEN (dissertation), DIE VOLKEBOND (The League of Nations), NASIONALISME EN LEWENS- BESKOUING (Nationalism and a View of Life), DIE KOM- MUNISME (Communism), and many articles and brochures. His many interests include international affairs and he is regarded as an expert on gold. In 1968 Dr Diederichs was appointed Chancellor of the Rand Afrikaans University. He holds the degree of D. Comm. (honoris causa) from the universities of the Orange Free State and Stellenbosch. He was awarded the Gold Medal by the City of Paris, the Order of Merit by the Government of Paraguay and the award of Knight of the Great Cross of the Order AL MERITO DELLA REPUBLICA ITALIANO by the Italian government. In addition to other honours bestowed upon him he was selected Business Statesman of the Year by the Harvard School of the Business Club of South Africa in 1973 and as Businessman of the Year by the largest English newspaper in South Africa in 1974. Dr Diederichs plays golf and reads a great deal. He is also interested in wild life. The inauguration of Dr Diederichs as State President took place in Cape Town on 19 April 1975. SY EDELE DR. N. DIEDERICHS Dr. Nicolaas Diederichs is op 17 November 1903 op Ladybrand gebore. Hy het sy skoolopleiding aan die Hoërskool Boshof voltooi en later sy B.A.- en M.A.-graad met onderskeiding aan die Grey Universiteitskollege (nou die Universiteit van die Oranje-Vrystaat) behaal. Hy het ook aan die universiteite van München en Keulen gestudeer en sy studies aan die Universiteit van Leiden voltooi waar hy die graad D. Litt. et Phil. (cum laude) behaal het. Na sy terugkeer na Suid-Afrika is hy by sy ou universiteit as professor in Staatsleer en Filosofie aangestel en het later leier van die Reddingsdaadbond en direkteur van die Ekonomiese Instituut geword. Hy is op 2 Julie 1932 getroud met mej. M.J. Potgieter van Bethlehem wat haar aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch in musiek bekwaam het. In 1948 het dr. Diederichs tot die politiek toegetree. In 1958 is hy as Minister van Ekonomiese Sake aangestel en van 1961 tot 1964 was hy ook Minister van Mynwese. In Februarie 1967 het hy Minister Finansies geword en die portefeulje tot sy aanstelling as Staatspresident beklee. van Gedurende sy parlementêre loopbaan het dr. Diederichs in verskeie komitees gedien o.a. die Inkomstebelastingkomitee en die Staatsrekeningekomitee. Hy het ook in die besture van verskeie industriële en finansiële ondernemings gedien. Hy het baie gereis en etlike boeke oor verskeie onderwerpe geskryf. Hy is die skrywer van VOM LEIDEN UND DULDEN (proefskrif), DIE VOLKEBOND, NASIONALISME EN LEWENSBESKOUING, DIE KOMMUNISME en baie artikels en brosjures. Internasionale aangeleenthede maak deel uit van sy wye belangstelling en hy word as 'n deskundige op die gebied van goud beskou. In 1968 is dr. Diederichs as Kanselier van die Randse Afrikaanse Universiteit aangestel. Die graad D. Com. (honoris causa) is deur die universiteite van die Oranje-Vrystaat en Stellenbosch aan hom toegeken. Die stad Parys het die Goue Medalje, die Paraguayse regering die Order of Merit en die Italiaanse regering die toekenning Knight of the Great Cross of the Order AL MERITO DELLA REPUBLICA ITALIANO aan hom toegeken. Benewens ander eretoekennings wat hy ontvang het, is hy in 1973 as Business Statesman of the Year deur die Harvardskool van die Besigheidsklub van Suid-Afrika gekies en in 1974 as Businessman of the Year deur die grootste Engelse koerant van Suid-Afrika. Dr. Diederichs speel graag gholf en lees baie. Hy stel ook belang in die dierelewe. Die inhuldiging van dr. Diederichs as Staatspresident het op 19 April 1975 in Kaapstad plaasgevind.

Condition: AverageNoticeable wear or light damage, such as creases, minor soiling, small tears, or light discolouration, but still collectable.

Addressed: No

Signed: No

Stamp denomination: R0.19 (ZAR)

SAPO serial number: 2.4

Estimated value: ~US$0.1

This is a high-level, subjective estimate only, not a professional appraisal.