Neil de Beer
Neil de Beer | |
|---|---|
| President of the United Independent Movement | |
| In office 1 October 2020 – 30 August 2025 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1968 Stellenbosch, Cape Province, South Africa |
| Died | (aged 56) |
| Political party | United Independent Movement (2020–2025) |
| Other political affiliations | African National Congress (1987–2020) |
| Occupation |
|
Neil de Beer (1968 – 30 August 2025) was a South African politician, businessman and security consultant.
Life and career
[edit]De Beer was born in 1968[1][better source needed] in Stellenbosch, Cape Province, South Africa.[2] He was conscripted to the South African Defence Force in 1987 and was deployed to Angola. A year later, he defected from the apartheid security police to the then-banned uMkhonto weSizwe, the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC), working as an intelligence operative.
De Beer stated that he began to question his beliefs while interrogating a prisoner, who told him that "You can kill me, you can murder me but after me comes a million and after that another million. Because this is not about race, this is about dignity."
De Beer later became national security adviser to President Nelson Mandela.[3]
De Beer left the ANC in 2020, stating that the party had lost its way, and that Nelson Mandela would not have supported it in its then form, and formed the United Independent Movement (UIM), of which he was president until his death in 2025.[4][5] Initially intended to be a political movement, the UIM registered as a political party in August 2021.[6] De Beer, then aged 52, stated that he wanted to be the youngest president in South Africa.[7]
The UIM joined the Multi-Party Charter prior to the 2024 South African general election.[8]
De Beer also ran a number of businesses.[7]
De Beer died from colon cancer on 30 August 2025, at the age of 56.[4][9]
References
[edit]- ^ Yates, Bennett (21 July 2025). "All about Neil de Beer: net worth, biography, and rise to UIM president - Briefly.co.za". briefly.co.za. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
- ^ NUUSPOD (13 June 2025). "Neil de Beer: Die kanker kom my haal, maar ek is nie bang vir die dood nie". YouTube. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
- ^ Solomons, Tarryn-Leigh. "Nelson Mandela's former security advisor and Umkhonto we Sizwe agent, Neil de Beer, launches political party". IOL. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
- ^ a b Ludidi, Velani. "Former Mandela security advisor and UIM leader Neil de Beer dies after cancer battle". News24. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
- ^ Viljoen, Andre (1 October 2020). "'My president is the almighty God, and that's who I serve' - reborn, veteran ANC fighter, Neil de Beer". gatewaynews.co.za. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
- ^ "About Us – UIM". Retrieved 30 August 2025.
- ^ a b Dolley, Caryn (10 November 2020). "Neil De Beer reinvented – the bolognaise-loving, ex-ANC spy intent on becoming South Africa's president". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
- ^ "DA mourns the passing of UIM President, Neil de Beer". Democratic Alliance. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
- ^ Steyn, Chris (30 August 2025). "Neil de Beer: Death of a fearless teller of truths". BizNews. Retrieved 30 August 2025.