Marthinus van Schalkwyk

Marthinus van Schalkwyk is a white South African politician. A former Premier of Western Cape, and Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of South Africa, he is the leader of the New National Party. He was appointed minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism in the South African cabinet as a reward for aligning his party with the ruling African National Congress, despite his party's poor performance in the 2004 General Election. He is referred to by his opponents as kortbroek (short pants), a name he earned because of his boyish appearance and lack of political experience when compared to his predecessor, FW De Klerk. He is generally disliked by most Afrikaners who view him as weak politician who destroyed the old National Party to gain leverage with the ruling ANC.

In August 2004 it was announced that van Schalkwyk would become a member of the African National Congress, and that his party would disband by 2005.