Theodor Johannes Adolph Gerdener (19 March 1916 – 21 November 2013) was a South African politician, journalist, and author.
Born in Cape Town, Gerdener served as an interior minister for the National Party, but resigned from the National Party in 1972 as a result of the racial policies of the Vorster government. He founded the Democratic Party in 1973 and chaired it until 1977 when the Democratic Party and the United Party led by Sir De Villiers Graaff merged to form the New Republic Party.
He was Administrator of the Natal Province between November 1961 and August 1970. Before entering politics, Gerdener founded Die Nataller, the first Afrikaans newspaper in Natal.
Gerdener died on 21 November 2013, aged 97, in Pretoria.
References