The 59 year old executive of Anglo American, Dr Zach de Beer, was elected as leader of the anti-Apartheid Progressive Federal Party. The officials of the Party had hoped that De Beer would turn the fortunes of the party around. When De Beer assumed his position, the party had only 17 seats out of 178 seats in the White parliament. De Beer succeeded Colin Eglin.
eventREF E-0012763Revised
5 August 1988
Zach de Beer is elected as leader of the PFP
- Updated
- 30 Sep 2019
How we know this
- 01AP,(1988), 'Top South African Executive To Run Anti-Apartheid Party', from The New York Times [Online], Available at: www.nytimes.com, [Accessed: 02 August 20123]
Last updated · 30 Sep 2019
South African History Online. (2013, August 2). Zach de Beer is elected as leader of the PFP. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012763
South African History Online (2013) 'Zach de Beer is elected as leader of the PFP', South African History Online, 2 August. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012763 (Accessed: 10 November 2026).
South African History Online, Zach de Beer is elected as leader of the PFP [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012763, (accessed 10 November 2026).
"Zach de Beer is elected as leader of the PFP." South African History Online, 2 Aug. 2013, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012763. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.
South African History Online. "Zach de Beer is elected as leader of the PFP." South African History Online. August 2, 2013. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012763.
Also on 5 August
- 1962Nelson Mandela is arrested
- 1963Nuclear Test Ban Treaty signed
- 1965Prime Minister opens SA’s first atomic reactor
- 1965Prime Minister opens SA's first atomic reactor
- 1982The twentieth anniversary of the arrest of Nelson Mandela is marked by a call for his release by China
- 1982Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu on Robben Island 5 August 1982
- 1997Ramzi Yousef, alleged mastermind of World Trade centre bombing goes on trial
- 2002Luyanda Mboniswa charged with the murder of Marike de Klerk
Search events by date
This day in history
What happened on your birthday?
SAHO is free because readers fund it. Donate →