Kent Diederich Skelton Durr (born 1941) is a South African politician and diplomat who served as Minister of Trade and Industry from September 1989 to March 1991 during the presidency of F. W. de Klerk. He later served as the last South African Ambassador to the United Kingdom from 1991 to 1994, and he represented the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) in the National Assembly from April 2004 to July 2005.

Kent Durr
Member of the National Assembly
In office
23 April 2004 – 31 July 2005
ConstituencyWestern Cape
Personal details
Born1941 (age 82–83)
Cape Province, Union of South Africa
CitizenshipSouth African citizenship
Political partyAfrican Christian Democratic Party
Other political
affiliations
National Party (formerly)
Alma materUniversity of Cape Town

Life and career

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Durr was born in the former Cape Province in 1941 and attended the South African College Schools and University of Cape Town.[1][self-published source] During apartheid, he represented the governing National Party in the House of Assembly,[2] and in September 1989 he was one of two Anglophones appointed to President de Klerk's cabinet.[3][4] He served as Minister of Trade and Industry until March 1991, when he was designated as South African Ambassador to the United Kingdom and left the assembly.[5]

After the end of apartheid, Durr remained active in South African politics, ultimately leaving the NP for the ACDP. In the 2004 general election, he stood as a candidate for the ACDP[6] and was elected to the post-apartheid National Assembly, serving the Western Cape constituency.[7] He resigned on 31 July 2005 and was replaced by Hendry Cupido.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "About". Kent Durr. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  2. ^ "PW shuffles his cabinet". The Mail & Guardian. 10 March 1988. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  3. ^ Claiborne, William (17 September 1989). "S. African Leader Reshuffles Cabinet". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  4. ^ Wren, Christopher S. (17 September 1989). "South African Leader Appoints New Cabinet". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  5. ^ "De Klerk reshuffles Cabinet to promote land reform". UPI. 14 March 1991. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  6. ^ "Few surprises on candidates lists". The Mail & Guardian. 20 April 2004. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  7. ^ a b "National Assembly Members". Parliamentary Monitoring Group. 15 January 2009. Archived from the original on 14 May 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2023.