His father Coenie was a railway clerk and organizer of the National Party and Member of Parliament for the Vasco constituency from 1953 to 1961.
In 1963–1964, he was a part-time lecturer in philosophy at the University of the Western Cape and was awarded the Abe Bailey and Markotter scholarships.
[5] While he was lecturing at RAU, the then rector, Gerrit Viljoen, persuaded him at this time to become active in politics.
[3]: 73 The following year he contested the Gardens constituency in Cape Town, but lost to Ken Andrew of the Progressive Federal Party.
In 1983, he called a commission to investigate monopolies, and he stimulated small business in rural and ‘homeland’ areas.