A South African businessman has become the first Jew in 50 years to be appointed to the nation’s Cabinet.
President F.W. de Klerk announced last week that Louis Shill, 62, will take office June I as minister of national housing and public works.
His appointment is expected to last at least until this country’s first universal franchise general election — in which both blacks and whites will vote — probably in the first half of 1994.
Shill faces a major challenge in this post, as housing and urbanization are among the key issues facing South Africa today.
The only other Jew to hold Cabinet office was Dr. Henry Gluckman, who served as minister of health and housing under Field Marshal Jan Smuts from 1945 to 1948.
Shill founded the Sage group of companies in 1965, South Africa’s first mutual fund. Since that time he has built the group into a major player in life insurance, finance and real estate.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
