Daniel François Malan was a South African politician who served as the Prime Minister of South Africa from 1948 to 1954. He was a key figure in the establishment of the apartheid system, which enforced racial segregation and discrimination against non-white South Africans. Malan was a member of the National Party, which promoted policies that favored the white minority. Born on May 22, 1886, in Bredasdorp, Malan was educated at the University of Cape Town and later became a minister in the Dutch Reformed Church. His political career began in the 1920s, and he played a significant role in shaping South Africa's political landscape during the mid-20th century. Malan passed away on February 7, 1971.