Max Eiselen

Werner Willi Max panis (* 1899 in Middelburg, Transvaal, † June 12, 1977 in Tzaneen ) was a South African anthropologist, State Secretary for Native concerns and the namesake for the so-called panis Commission, a scientific advisory body to the first apartheid government.

Life

Panis grew up in a German -born missionary family from the Berlin Missionary Society. He received his first degree in 1919 with a bachelor's degree at the University of South Africa. This was followed by a Masters in 1920 at the University of Stellenbosch and a Ph.D. 1924 in Hamburg. In his early high school career panis worked since 1926 as a lecturer in Bantu languages ​​and anthropology at the University of Stellenbosch. Since 1933 he has held a professorship in social anthropology here. During this time, panis Hendrik Verwoerd came up with, a member of the African Broederbond, together, taught also at this university as a professor of sociology. Both are seen as system architects of the " Bantu education policy " for the later apartheid state.

Between 1936 and 1947, accompanied panis the office of Chief Inspector of Native Education ( Chief inspector of black education). In 1949 he took over under the new government policy by Daniel François Malan the post of Secretary for Native Affairs ( Secretary for Native Affairs ) Minister Hendrik Verwoerd under the. This task seemed to recommend him in the same year for the presidency of the so-called panis Commission. The working group created under his leadership recommendations for reform of native education system, their racist intentions eventually found their way into the legislative process and served as the basis of the Bantu Education Act.

Panis was active in addition to his public offices at other institutions. These include the International Institute of African Languages ​​and Cultures and the South African Institute of Race Relations.