21 Facts About Francois Beukman

Francois Beukman is a South African attorney and former politician who served as a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa from 1999 to 2009 and again from 2014 to 2019.

Francois Beukman was first elected to Parliament as a member of the now-defunct New National Party in 1999 and served as the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts from 2001 to 2004.

Francois Beukman was elected back to the National Assembly in 2014 and was appointed to chair the Portfolio Committee on Police.

Francois Beukman matriculated from Paarl Boys' High School in 1983 before going on to study at the University of Stellenbosch from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Public Administration in 1986, an Honours degree in Political Science in 1989 and a Master of Arts in Political Science and Government in 1990.

Francois Beukman earned an BProc Law degree in 1996 and a Bachelor of Laws in 2006, both degrees from the University of South Africa.

Francois Beukman was a senior constitutional planner in the Department of Constitutional Development during the multiparty negotiation process.

Francois Beukman was a representative of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development in Cape Town during the final two years of the Constitutional Assembly.

Francois Beukman left the department in 1995, proceeding to work for the private sector and law firms, and was the director of a law firm.

Francois Beukman was head of the NNP's media department and was regarded as one of the party's newer generation MPs.

Nonetheless, Francois Beukman was reappointed to the committee and elected chairperson of the committee in April 2002 after the NNP and the ruling African National Congress signed a co-operation agreement.

Francois Beukman succeeded Gavin Woods, who resigned from the position earlier in the year and defeated DP MP Nigel Bruce in a voice vote.

However, the ANC soon backtracked and announced that Francois Beukman would remain as SCOPA chairperson.

Francois Beukman resigned as committee chairperson after he and other NNP MPs defected to the ANC during the 2005 floor-crossing window period.

Francois Beukman continued serving as an ANC Member of Parliament until the 2009 general election.

Francois Beukman stood as an ANC parliamentary candidate in the 2014 general elections and was elected back to the National Assembly.

Francois Beukman was elected to chair the Portfolio Committee on Police.

In May 2018, Francois Beukman welcomed Advocate Godfrey Lebeya's appointment as the head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, more commonly known as the Hawks.

Francois Beukman was placed in unelectable position on the ANC's list in the 2019 general election and left parliament on 7 May 2019.

Francois Beukman's nomination was approved by the National Assembly the following day.

Francois Beukman replaced former director Karen McKenzie who left the position in 2005.

Francois Beukman announced his resignation from the position on the same day as the Marikana massacre in August 2012.