PIONEER
Colin Wells Eglin
Politician | Progressive Party founder | Constitution drafter
Born: 14 April 1925 Died: 29 November 2013
“A constitution that protects the fundamental rights of all South Africans will assist in the process of reconciliation and nation-building.”
Who is
Colin Wells Eglin?
Founding member and former leader of the Progressive Party (PP), who participated in the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA) and served in its working group.
Professions
and Roles
Politician, founding member and leader of the PP, participated in CODESA.
Best Known For
Serving as the national leader of the opposition party from 1977 to 1979 and 1986 to 1987.
Life highlights
- Eglin started the Pinelands Young People’s Club and became the Chair of the Pinelands Civic Association in 1951.
- Eglin became a political campaign manager for Zac de Beer of the United Party (UP) for the parliamentary seat of Maitland. He was elected unopposed as the UP provincial Councillor for Pinelands in 1954 and became the Peninsula Member of Parliament (MP) in 1958.
- Eglin formed the nucleus of the new Progressive Party (PP) in 1959 and became the chair of the National Executive of the PP in 1966. He was appointed as the party leader of the PP in 1971.
- Eglin negotiated a merger with members of the Reform Party in 1974, leading to the formation of the Progressive Reform Party (PRP). He stepped down as PRP leader and was elected National Chairman of the party in 1979.
- Eglin resigned from this position, but was reappointed Chairman of the Progressive Federal Party (PFP) in 1986.
- Eglin was instrumental in negotiations with the Independent Party (IP) and National Democratic Movement (NDM) to form a new opposition party. This resulted in the formation of the Democratic Party (DP) in 1989.
- Eglin participated in CODESA and served in its working group.
- Eglin was made an Officer of the Order of the Disa in 2014, and conferred the Order of the Baobab Silver for serving the country with excellence and for his dedication and courage in standing up for the principles of equality for all South Africans against the unjust laws of the land.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
“A constitution that protects the fundamental rights of all South Africans will assist in the process of reconciliation and nation-building.”
– Colin Eglin
“A bill of rights should be written in a language which can be understood and which is meaningful to the ordinary citizens of our country. If they do not understand their rights, they will never enjoy them.”
– Colin Eglin
IN THE WORDS OF OTHERS
“He was characterised by equal measures of tenacity and intelligence, and an adaptive pragmatism, which married the pursuit of principle to the realities of an often changing political environment. He was also famously irascible, and on his own description had a reputation for being “Mr Gruff”. He was also fascinated by, and relentlessly travelled the world.”
– Tony Leon, former leader of the Democratic Party and Democratic Alliance
