Hernus Kriel

{{Short description|South African politician}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Use South African English|date=September 2023}}

{{Infobox officeholder

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|name = Hermanus Jacobus Kriel

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|office = 1st Premier of the Western Cape

|term_start = 7 May 1994

|term_end = 11 May 1998

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|predecessor = Position Established

|successor = Gerald Morkel

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|office2 = Minister of Law and Order

|term_start2 = 1991

|term_end2 = 1994

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|predecessor2 = Adriaan Vlok

|successor2 = Sidney Mufamadi

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|birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1941|11|14}}

|birth_place = Kakamas, Cape Province, South Africa (now Northern Cape)

|death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2015|07|05|1941|11|14}}

|death_place = Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

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|party = National

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|alma_mater = University of Stellenbosch

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Hermanus Jacobus Kriel (14 November 1941{{snd}}5 July 2015) was the first Premier of the Western Cape province. He previously served as the Minister of Law and Order in the South African government under Frederik Willem de Klerk.{{cite news|url=http://www.mg.co.za/article/2010-08-19-premiers-on-the-provincial-thrones|title=Premiers on the provincial thrones|publisher=Mail & Guardian|date=13 May 1994}} He was born in 1941 in Kakamas, Cape Province.{{cite book | title=Who's Who of Southern Africa | publisher=Who's Who of Southern Africa C.C | editor-last=Hayes|editor-first=S.V.| year=1992 | pages=465 | isbn=0-620-15974-X}}{{cite web | url=http://www.nelsonmandela.org/omalley/index.php/site/q/03lv02424/04lv02426/05lv02541.htm | title=O Malley Archives | accessdate=January 29, 2013}}

Kriel served as premier from 11 May 1994 to 11 May 1998 as a member of the National Party. He became known for having questioned the objectivity of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and for having advocated for the return of the death penalty in South Africa.{{cite news|url=http://www.justice.gov.za/trc/media/1996/9611/s961104e.htm|publisher=South African Press Association|date=4 November 1996|title=TUTU REBUKES DE KLERK AND KRIEL FOR CRITICISING THE TRC'S OBJECTIVITY}}

He defected to the Democratic Party in June 2000; the DP had overtaken the NP as the official opposition in the National Assembly of South Africa after the election held the year before.{{cite news|url=http://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/kriel-joins-dp-as-morkel-hurries-home-40282|title=Kriel joins DP as Morkel hurries home|publisher=Independent Online|date=14 June 2000}} He was however ranked unfavorably by the DP's electoral college,{{cite news|url=http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Kriel-spurned-by-W-Cape-DP-20000912|title=Kriel spurned by W Cape DP|publisher=News24|date=12 September 2000}} and would instead later appear on the candidate list for the small African Christian Democratic Party.

Kriel was married to Anna-Mari (née Jooste). He died on 5 July 2015, aged 73.{{cite news |first=Genevieve |last=Quintal |date = 6 July 2015 |title=De Klerk saddened by Kriel's death |publisher=News24 |url=http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/De-Klerk-saddened-by-Kriels-death-20150706 |accessdate=6 July 2015}}