Barend Jacobus du Plessis (born 19 January 1940 in Johannesburg) is a South African retired politician and a former member of the now-dissolved National Party, as well as Minister of Finance in 1984–1992. Early life and education Du Plessis grew up in Boksburg where he began his education at Pioneer Primary School and matriculated at Voortrekker High School in 1956. He obtained his BSc degree in 1960 from the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education (now North – West University) and in 1961 he completed his Transvaal Higher Education degree. During his studies, he played an active role in the Transvaal Education Training College Union. Although the organisation dealt mainly with students and training issues, it could be seen as his first steps into the political arena. He was elected president of the student council, which enabled him to travel overseas to The Netherlands, West Germany, and Belgium, where he met other student leaders. He also campaigned for the Nationalists in the 1960 republic referendum. Career Early career In 1962, he started as a mathematics teacher at the Helpmekaar Boys School in Johannesburg, and the Johannesburg Technical College. Later, he was appointed as an administrative officer at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). Du Plessis was next promoted to the data processing unit, where he trained in computer technology. He was promoted and transferred to the office of the Director General as an administrative secretary. After his resignation from the SABC in 1968, he went to work at IBM until 1974. Here he received training in banking and finance, while also attending the IBM Graduate School of Banking Business at Princeton University in the United States. Political career Du Plessis's father was an active member of the National Party and a political career was always a part of his aspirations. He had already worked for the National Party during elections and the Republic referendum of 1960. In 1966, he became an official member of the National Party. After entering his first step in community service in 1972 as an elected official to the Johannesburg City Council, he rapidly advanced himself and was chosen as vice mayor in 1974. He also ran as the NP candidate in Florida, Gauteng in the same year and won the seat from the United Party. In his capacity as a cabinet minister, he served as a member of the Elected Committee on Public Accounts from