National Party in the Transvaal. After P. W. Botha fell ill in 1989, he successfully contested interim president Chris Heunis and Foreign Minister Pik Botha in the struggle for the leadership of the National Party but was beaten in the final round by De Klerk, son of former interim president Jan de Klerk, by a 69–61 figure. Du Plessis was recalled to De Klerk's cabinet but left his post in 1992. Personal life He is married to Antoinette van den Berg and has four children. References National Party (South Africa) politicians Living people 1940 births Finance ministers of South Africa