Jimmy Kruger

James Thomas "Jimmy" Kruger (1917 — May 9, 1987 [Donald Woods, "Biko", p. 404] ) was a South African politician who rose to the position of Minister of Justice and the Police in the cabinet of Prime Minister John Vorster from 1974 to 1979.

Kruger was an Afrikaner and part of the conservative National Party government which championed apartheid. He was responsible for the banning of Black Consciousness Movement leader Steve Biko; when Biko died while in police custody, Kruger's response was "It leaves me cold." (A literal translation of the Afrikaans "Dit laat my koud"(meaning: "I don't care")) ["Biko", p. 214]

At first, Kruger maintained that Biko had died during a hunger strike. ["Biko", p. 213] This account was challenged by Donald Woods. [Donald Woods, "South African Dispatches", p. 167-168] Kruger later began to recant his earlier statements, while claiming that Biko had authored pamphlets calling for "blood and body in the streets." ["South African Dispatches", p. 179] Woods came under increasing scrutiny for his articles, and finally, following the publication of an article calling on Kruger to resign, ["South African Dispatches", pp. 185-188] he was banned under direct orders from Kruger. ["South African Dispatches", p. 189] Not long afterwards, Woods and his family fled the country for a life of exile in England. ["South African Dispatches", pp. xiii-xvi]

In response to international pressure, the South African government ordered an inquest to investigate the cause of Biko's death; the presiding magistrate concluded that Biko had died of brain damage caused by head injury; however, no one was held responsible for, or prosecuted for, Biko's death. ["South African Dispatches", p. 190] Even so, it was the end of Kruger's career. Having decided that his performance had severely compromised the country's credibility abroad, the government ordered him to resign, and he lost not only his cabinet post, but his membership in the ruling party, as well. [Ibid.] Kruger spent the rest of his life in political obscurity. ["Biko", p. 404]

In the film "Cry Freedom", Kruger was portrayed by John Thaw.

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