James Thomas Kruger (20 December 1917 – 9 May 1987[1][2]) was a South African lawyer and politician of Welsh descent who was part of the conservative National Party government which championed apartheid.
[6] This account was challenged by the white South African journalist Donald Woods, a personal friend of Biko.
[8] Kruger later began to recant his earlier statements, while claiming that Biko had authored pamphlets calling for "blood and body in the streets.
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.
In 1982, Kruger joined the Conservative Party of Andries Treurnicht in protest against the racial reforms of the Botha Government.
[5][2] In the film Cry Freedom (1987), which was based on Woods's role in the anti-apartheid struggle, Kruger was portrayed by English actor John Thaw.