W.A.J. Coetzee was born in Piketberg in 1928. After matriculating, he started work as a post-office clerk. He was later transferred to the office of the Deputy Postmaster-General in Pretoria. As an extramural student he successively obtained his B.A., B.A. Honours, and M.A. degrees in Public Administration from the University of Pretoria. In 1973 he was appointed senior lecturer and head of the Department of Public Administration at the University of Durban-Westville. He became a professor in 1977 after obtaining his doctorate (D.Phil.) in 1976 from the University of Pretoria and has subsequently served as dean of the Faculty of Commerce. Professor Coetzee is the author of a number of books and articles in Public Administration in South Africa and has delivered papers at conferences locally and abroad. He has been a member, director or chairman of various cultural and professional organizations, and has also served on a number of university senate committees.