Malan, Daniel François (1874–1959)

South African right-wing politician, prime minister 1948–54. He founded the Purified National Party in 1934. His policy of apartheid was implemented in a series of acts of parliament including the Group Areas Act, the Mixed Marriages Act, and the Immorality Act.

Elected to parliament in 1919, he joined the government as minister of the interior in 1924. When he became prime minister in 1948, as well as minister of external affairs, he formed an exclusively Afrikaner government.

Born near Riebeeck West, Cape Province, Malan was a neighbour and school friend of Jan Smuts, who was to precede him as prime minister. Malan studied in the Netherlands and became a minister of the Dutch Reformed Church. He helped to launch the Nationalist Party in the Cape in 1915, and started the first official newspaper of the party, Die Burger, in 1915, working as editor until 1924.