James Thomas Kruger was a South African lawyer and politician of Welsh descent who was part of the conservative National Party government which championed apartheid.
12 Facts About Jimmy Kruger
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Jimmy Kruger rose to the position of Minister of Justice and the Police in the cabinet of Prime Minister John Vorster from 1974 to 1979.
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Jimmy Kruger was President of the Senate from 1979 until 1980, when it was abolished.
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Jimmy Kruger was born in Bethlehem, Orange Free State, South Africa of Welsh parents and was adopted by Afrikaner parents.
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Jimmy Kruger obtained his matric from a high school in Ventersdorp and then became a miner.
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Jimmy Kruger trained as a surveyor at a gold mine in Brakpan before taking an exam as a mining surveyor.
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In 1972, Jimmy Kruger was made a deputy cabinet minister in the police, health and welfare portfolio.
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Jimmy Kruger was responsible for the banning of Black Consciousness Movement leader Steve Biko; when Biko died in police custody, the police claimed that Biko had died during a hunger strike.
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In 1982, Jimmy Kruger joined the Conservative Party of Andries Treurnicht in protest against the racial reforms of the Botha Government.
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Jimmy Kruger spent the rest of his life in political obscurity.
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Jimmy Kruger died at his home in Irene after recently having heart surgery.
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Jimmy Kruger was survived by his wife, Susanna and two sons, Eugene and Eitel.