Hendrik Schmidt is a South African politician, a Member of Parliament with the Democratic Alliance, and the Shadow Deputy Minister of Mining.

[1] Schmidt began his political career as a councillor in the Northern Metropolitan Council and went on to become an MP in 1999.

He held the position of Democratic Alliance spokesperson on Minerals and Energy from 2004 to 2009, and was instrumental in pursuing and exposing the truth surrounding the Oilgate scandal, involving the African National Congress and Petro-SA.

As a fierce opponent of nationalization of the mining industry in South Africa,[3] he has released many statements to validate his skepticism of the ANC’s ability to do this while turning a profit.

[1] Quote: "Expenditure in individual human capital and community development is an investment and not a cost.