Oswald Pirow | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minister of Justice of South Africa | |
| In office 1929–1933 | |
| Prime Minister | J. B. M. Hertzog |
| Preceded by | Tielman Roos |
| Succeeded by | Jan Smuts |
| Minister of Defence of South Africa | |
| In office 1933–1939 | |
| Prime Minister | J. B. M. Hertzog |
| Preceded by | Frederic Creswell |
| Succeeded by | Jan Smuts |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 August 1890 Aberdeen, Eastern Cape, Cape Colony (now Eastern Cape, South Africa) |
| Died | 11 October 1959 (aged 69) Pretoria, Transvaal, Union of South Africa |
| Nationality | South African citizenship |
| Political party | National Party |
| Spouse | Else Piel |
| Children | 2 sons, 2 daughters |
| Residence(s) | Valhalla Farm, near Pilgrim's Rest |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Oswald Pirow, QC (14 August 1890 – 11 October 1959) was a South African lawyer and far-right politician who held office as minister of justice, and later minister of defence for the National and United Party, respectively. Pirow eventually left the UP upon the Second World War and joined Daniel Malan's reunited National Party, but eventually broke when Pirow founded the New Order of South Africa, a marginal fascist group that disbanded before the end of the war. A celebrated jurist, including by future President Nelson Mandela, he served the NP government as a prosecutor in the Treason Trial until his death.