About Theophilus Ebenhaezer Dönges
Theophilus Ebenhaezer Dönges (8 March 1898 – 10 January 1968) was a South African politician who was elected the state president of South Africa, but died before he could take office, aged 69. == Early life == Eben Dönges was born on 8 March 1898 in the town of Klerksdorp, the youngest son of Theophilus C. Dönges, a minister of religion. He attended Stellenbosch University and received a law degree from the University of London. He was admitted to the Middle Temple on 23 November 1921 and withdrew without being called to the bar on 8 November 1928. When he returned from London, he became active in the National Party and joined its mouthpiece, Die Burger, as a journalist. He left journalism in 1927 and practised law. == Career == Dönges was a member of the Ossewabrandwag. Running for parliament, he was unsuccessful in his first attempt in Hoopstad in 1938 before winning a by-election in Fauresmith in 1941. When the National Party won power in 1948, he joined the cabinet as Minister of Posts and Telegraphs. As Minister of the Interior, from 1948 to 1961, he was one of the so-called "architects" of apartheid, introducing race-based population registration, and removing Coloured voters from the common voters' roll as a prelude to disenfranchising them altogether.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.