Hermanus Gabriel Loots (19 July 1936 – 25 January 2016), also known by his nom de guerre James Stuart, was a South African politician, businessman, and former anti-apartheid activist.
He served in the post-apartheid National Assembly from 1994 to 1999 before pursuing a private career in business, including as chairperson of the ANC's investment company, Chancellor House.
[1] He was the second of seven children born to Gabriel and Minnie Sophia Loots,[2] who were poor farm-workers descended from the so-called Bastards, a group of Cape settlers of mixed European and Khoi heritage.
[3] After matriculating at John Bisseker High School in East London, Loots studied civil engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand, where he became interested in anti-apartheid politics.
[7] ANC President Tambo appointed Loots to chair an internal commission of inquiry to investigate the grievances of MK recruits and the cause of the mutinies.
[6] The so-called Stuart Report deviated from the position of the incumbent MK leadership, dismissing NAT's contention that the mutinies had been "an organised act of conspiracy" by "enemy agents".
Instead, the report highlighted poor conditions in MK camps, particularly due to overzealous disciplinarians in NAT and encouraged by a lack of clarity in the ANC's internal hierarchy and policies.
[6] He also continued as secretary of the External Coordinating Committee until it was disbanded in 1990,[6] and in September 1985,[10] he was a member of the ANC's delegation to an early meeting with eminent white South Africans in preparation for negotiations to end apartheid.
ANC Secretary-General Kgalema Motlanthe commissioned an internal investigation, begun in April 2006 under Loots's leadership and also including Josiah Jele, Gilbert Ramano, and Jackie Sedibe.
[1][16] President Jacob Zuma declared a special official funeral for Loots, held on 6 February,[17] and the flag was flown at half-mast for five days.
[4] Later that year,[18] Zuma awarded Loots the Order of Mendi for Bravery in silver for "his gallant fight against the oppression of the majority of South Africans during the hard times of apartheid injustice.