Jacobus Johannes Fouché

Who was Jacobus Johannes Fouché?

Jacobus Johannes Fouché served as the second President of South Africa from 1968 to 1975.

Born in the Boer republic of the Orange Free State, Fouché was a successful farmer. A staunch republican, he was a member of the National Party for many years.

Fouché served as Administrator of the Orange Free State from 1950 to 1959, and was then promoted to the Cabinet, where he served as Minister of Defence from 14 December 1959 to 1 April 1966 and as Minister of Agricultural Technical Services and Water Affairs from 1966 to 1968. He was elected State President in place of Dr Eben Dönges, and served as ceremonial head of state from 1968 to 1975. He was the only State President to serve his full seven-year term of office, as well as having the second-longest presidency to date.