Jan Steytler
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Jan Steytler | |
|---|---|
 Walter Stanford, Harry Lawrence, Boris Wilson, Jan Steytler, Helen Suzman, Colin Eglin, Owen Williams, Ray Swart, Clive van Ryneveld, John Cope, Zach de Beer and Ronald Butcher in 1960 | |
| Leader of the Progressive Party | |
| In office 1959–1971 | |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Colin Eglin |
| Member of Parliament for Queenstown | |
| In office 1953–1961 | |
| Constituency | Queenstown, Cape Province |
| In office 1959–1961 | |
| Constituency | Queenstown, Cape Province |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 26, 1910 |
| Died | Unknown |
| Party | United Party Progressive Party |
Johannes "Jan" van Aswegen Steytler[1] (October 26, 1910 – after 1977) was a liberal South African politician and the first leader of the Progressive Party (PP). He was born in Burgersdorp, in the then Cape Province now Eastern Cape Province.
Steytler was an Afrikaner. He was born on October 26, 1910, in Burghersdorp.[2][3] His father Louw Steytler was a veteran of the Second Boer War, who had helped found the National Party (NP). Louw Steytler became a Member of Parliament, as a supporter of J. B. M. Hertzog, who led the NP and then the United Party (UP) after the fusion of 1934. When the UP split in 1939, the Steytler family broke with Hertzog to remain in the UP as supporters of Jan Smuts. Louw Steytler died in 1945.
Jan Steytler went to England, in the 1930s, to study medicine at Guy's Hospital, London. As a student and later a member of staff, Steytler played first class Rugby Union for his hospital and was mentioned as a possible England player.
On the outbreak of the Second World War, Steytler returned to South Africa to become a member of the Medical Corps of the Union Defence Force. After the war he became a District Surgeon in the Cape town of Beaufort West, where he became active in politics.