Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd (8 September 1901 – 6 September 1966) was Prime Minister of South Africa from 1958 until 1966 when he was assassinated. In an effort to gain greater independance for South Africans, Verwoerd broke ties with United Kingdom and established South Africa as a republic.
Verwoerd was voted 19th in the 100 Greatest South Africans Poll by the South African Broadcasting Corporation in 2004. [1]