Free State NP. From 1990 on, he participated in the negotiations between the NP-government and the ANC. In 1993 he also took over the defence portfolio from Roelf Meyer until the elections of 1994. A Fast Attack Craft of the South African Navy was named after him. Kobie Coetsee married Helena Elizabeth Malan on 6 October 1956 and was a father of two sons and three daughters. He died of a heart attack 29 July 2000, in Bloemfontein. References Mondli Makhanya: Wily lawyer who won madiba's trust. Former champion of apartheid dies with integrity intact. Sunday Times (South Africa) 30 July 2000 Hendrik Jacobus (Kobie) Coetsee | a biography – South African History Online 1931 births 2000 deaths People from Ladybrand Afrikaner people South African people of Dutch descent National Party (South Africa) politicians Defence ministers of South Africa Presidents of the Senate of South Africa Members of the House of Assembly (South Africa) South African jurists Justice ministers of South Africa