Marthinus van Schalkwyk

Marthinus van Schalkwyk
van Schalkwyk in January 2009
South African Minister of Tourism
In office 10 May 2009 – 25 May 2014
President	Jacob Zuma
Preceded by	New portfolio
Succeeded by	Derek Hanekom
Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
In office 29 April 2004 – 10 May 2009
Preceded by	Valli Moosa
Succeeded by	Portfolio split
Leader of the Opposition
In office 1997–1999
Preceded by	Frederik Willem de Klerk
Succeeded by	Tony Leon
4th Premier of the Western Cape
In office 21 June 2002 – 28 April 2004
Preceded by	Peter Marais
Succeeded by	Ebrahim Rasool
Personal details
Born	(1959-11-10) 10 November 1959 (age 64) Pietersburg, South Africa (now Polokwane, South Africa)
Political party	African National Congress (2005–present)
Other political affiliations	New National Party (1997–2005) National Party (1980s–1997)
Spouse	Suzette van Schalkwyk
Children	2
Military service
Allegiance	South Africa
Branch/service	South African Defence Force
Years of service	1978–1979

Marthinus Christoffel Johannes van Schalkwyk (born 10 November 1959) is a South African politician, academic, and lawyer, who serves as High Commissioner to Australia. He previously served as MP and Minister of Tourism in the Cabinet of South Africa.^[1] Formerly Premier of the Western Cape and Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of South Africa, he was the leader of the New National Party from its inception on 8 September 1997 until its dissolution on 9 April 2005. He was appointed Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism in the Thabo Mbeki administration after merging his party with the ruling African National Congress (ANC), despite the poor performance of the former in the 2004 General Election.