1960 South African republic referendum
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Are you in favour of a Republic for the Union? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Results | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Results by province |
A referendum on becoming a republic was held in
Background
Afrikaner republicanism
Despite the defeat of the two
National culture and national welfare cannot unfold fully if the people of South Africa do not also constitutionally sever all foreign ties. After the cultural and economic needs, the Afrikaner will have to devote his attention to the constitutional needs of our people. Added to that objective must be an entirely independent genuine, Afrikaans form of government for South Africa... a form of government which through its embodiment in our own personal head of state, bone of our bone, flesh of our flesh, will inspire us to irresistible unity and strength.[5]
In 1940, Malan, along with Hertzog, founded the Herenigde Nasionale Party (or "Reunited National Party") which pledged to fight for "a free independent republic, separated from the British Crown and Empire", and "to remove, step by step, all anomalies which hamper the fullest expression of our national freedom".[6]
That year, a Commission appointed by the Broederbond, met to draft a constitution for a republic; this included future National Party ministers, such as Hendrik Verwoerd, Albert Hertzog and Eben Dönges.[7]
In 1942, details of a draft republican constitution were published in Afrikaans-language newspapers Die Burger and Die Transvaler, which provided for a State President, elected by white citizens known as Burgers only, who would be "only responsible to God... for his deeds in the fulfilment of his duties", aided by a Community Council with exclusively advisory powers, while Afrikaans would be the first official language, with English as a supplemental language.[8]
On the matter of continued Commonwealth membership, the Broederbond's view was that "departure from the Commonwealth as soon as possible remains a cardinal aspect of our republican aim".[9]
During the visit to South Africa by King George VI and his family in 1947, the Afrikaans-language newspaper Die Transvaler, of which Verwoerd was editor, ignored the royal tour, making reference only to "busy streets" in
National Party in government
In 1948, the National Party, now led by D. F. Malan, came to power, although it did not campaign for a republic during the election, instead favouring remaining in the Commonwealth, thereby appealing to Afrikaners who otherwise might have voted for the United Party of Jan Smuts.[12] This decision to downplay the republic question and focus on race issues was influenced by N C Havenga, the leader of the Afrikaner Party, which was in alliance with the National Party in the election.[13]
Malan's successor as Prime Minister,
On becoming Prime Minister in 1958, Verwoerd gave a speech to Parliament in which he declared that:
This has indeed been the basis of our struggle all these years: nationalism against imperialism. This has been the struggle since 1910: a republic as opposed to the monarchical connection... We stand unequivocally and clearly for the establishment of the republic in the correct manner and at the appropriate time.[18]
In 1960, Verwoerd announced plans to hold a whites-only referendum on the establishment of a republic, with a bill to that effect being introduced in Parliament on 23 April of that year.[19] The Referendum Act received assent on 3 June 1960.[20] He stated that a simple majority in favour of the change would be decisive, although minimal changes would be made to the existing constitutional structures.[21]
Before he was succeeded by Verwoerd as Prime Minister in 1958, Strijdom had lowered the voting age for whites from 21 to 18.
In hopes of winning the support of those opposed to a republic, not only English-speaking whites but Afrikaners still supporting the United Party, Verwoerd proposed that constitutional changes would be minimal, with the Queen simply being replaced as head of state by a State President, the office of which would be a ceremonial post rather than an executive one.[26]
Wind of Change speech
Earlier, in February of that year,
It was not the Republic of South Africa that was told, 'We are not going to support you in this respect.' Those words were addressed to the monarchy of South Africa, and yet we have the same monarch as this person from Britain who addressed these words to us. It was a warning given to all of us, English-speaking and Afrikaans-speaking, republican and anti-republican. It was clear to all of us that as far as these matters are concerned, we shall have to stand on our own feet.[28]
Many English-speaking whites, who had regarded Britain as their spiritual home, felt disillusionment and a sense of loss, including Douglas Edgar Mitchell, the United Party's leader in Natal.[29] Despite his opposition to Verwoerd's plans for a republic, Mitchell spoke in vehement opposition to many points of Macmillan's speech.[30]
Opposition to republic in Natal
In
Being convinced in our consciences that a republic would be disastrous to the material well-being of Natal as well as of the whole of South Africa, subversive of our freedom and destructive of our citizenship, we, whose names are underwritten, men and women of Natal, loyal subjects of Her Gracious Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, do hereby pledge ourselves in solemn covenant, throughout this our time of threatened calamity, to stand by one another in defending the Crown, and in using all means which may be found possible and necessary to defeat the present intention to set up a republic in South Africa. And in the event of a republic being forced upon us, we further solemnly and mutually pledge ourselves to refuse to recognise its authority. In sure confidence that God will defend the right, we hereto subscribe our names. GOD SAVE THE QUEEN.[31]
On the day of the referendum, the
Not to vote against the Republic is to help those who would cut us loose from our moorings, and set us adrift in a treacherous and uncharted sea, at the very time that the winds of change are blowing up to hurricane force.[34]
Between May 1956 and June 1958, the anti-republican Freedom Radio, set up by John Lang, broadcast from the Natal Midlands, later resuming broadcasts shortly before the referendum in October 1960 until the proclamation of the republic in May 1961.[35]
Black South African opinion
Black South Africans, who were denied a vote in the referendum, were not against the establishment of a republic per se, but saw the new constitution as a direct rejection of the principle of one person, one vote, as expressed in the Freedom Charter, drafted by the African National Congress and its allies in the Congress Alliance.[36] Despite its opposition to the monarchy and the Commonwealth, the ANC sought to mobilise white and black opposition to the republic, seeing it as an attempt by Verwoerd to consolidate the white grip on power.[37]
Campaign
"Yes" campaign
The pro-republic campaign focused on the need for white unity in the face of British decolonisation in Africa, and the eruption of the former Belgian Congo into bloody civil war following independence, which Verwoerd warned might give rise to similar chaos in South Africa.[40] It also argued that South Africa's links with the British monarchy led to confusion about the country's status, with one advertisement proclaiming: "Let us become a real republic now rather than remain betwixt and between".[41]
One campaign poster used the slogan "To re-unite and keep South Africa white, a republic now" on posters in
"No" campaign
The opposition
The smaller Progressive Party appealed to supporters of the proposed change to 'reject this republic', arguing that such a weighted electorate could not provide a valid test of opinion.[23] An advertisement appealing to voters who might support a republic declared: "The issue is not monarchy or republic but democracy or dictatorship".[48]
Results
Choice | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|
For | 850,458 | 52.29 | |
Against | 775,878 | 47.71 | |
Total | 1,626,336 | 100.00 | |
Valid votes | 1,626,336 | 99.52 | |
Invalid/blank votes | 7,904 | 0.48 | |
Total votes | 1,634,240 | 100.00 | |
Registered voters/turnout | 1,800,426 | 90.77 | |
Source: Government Gazette |
By province
Province | For | Against | Invalid/ blank |
Total | Registered voters |
Turnout | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Votes | % | Votes | % | |||||
Cape of Good Hope | 271,418 | 50.15 | 269,784 | 49.85 | 2,881 | 544,083 | 591,298 | 92.02 |
Natal |
42,299 | 23.78 | 135,598 | 76.22 | 688 | 178,585 | 193,103 | 92.48 |
Orange Free State |
110,171 | 76.72 | 33,438 | 23.28 | 798 | 144,407 | 160,843 | 89.78 |
South-West Africa |
19,938 | 62.39 | 12,017 | 37.61 | 280 | 32,235 | 37,135 | 86.80 |
Transvaal |
406,632 | 55.58 | 325,041 | 44.42 | 3,257 | 734,930 | 818,047 | 89.84 |
Source: Government Gazette Extraordinary (6557) |
By electoral division
Of the 156 House of Assembly parliamentary constituencies, a majority voted for a republic in 104 (all 103 won by the National Party in the 1958 general election, plus the United Party-held seat of Sunnyside in Pretoria), while a majority voted against in the other 52 (all held by the United Party or the Progressive Party).[49]
Province | Constituency | For | Against | Invalid/ blank |
Total | Registered voters[a] |
Turnout | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Votes | % | Votes | % | ||||||
Cape of Good Hope | Albany | 2,448 | 23.02 | 8,184 | 76.98 | 47 | 10,679 | 11,606 | 92.01 |
Aliwal | 5,243 | 58.14 | 3,775 | 41.86 | 53 | 9,071 | 9,583 | 94.66 | |
Beaufort West | 6,223 | 77.81 | 1,775 | 22.19 | 45 | 8,043 | 8,919 | 90.18 | |
Bellville | 8,387 | 62.73 | 4,984 | 37.27 | 57 | 13,428 | 14,548 | 92.30 | |
Ceres | 6,596 | 77.00 | 1,970 | 23.00 | 53 | 8,619 | 9,416 | 91.54 | |
Constantia | 1,638 | 13.60 | 10,405 | 86.40 | 30 | 12,073 | 13,277 | 90.93 | |
Cradock | 5,615 | 66.76 | 2,796 | 33.24 | 41 | 8,452 | 9,140 | 92.47 | |
De Aar—Colesberg | 5,846 | 70.60 | 2,434 | 29.40 | 52 | 8,332 | 9,052 | 92.05 | |
Fort Beaufort | 4,910 | 55.46 | 3,943 | 44.54 | 52 | 8,905 | 9,327 | 95.48 | |
George | 7,842 | 76.83 | 2,365 | 23.17 | 51 | 10,258 | 10,969 | 93.52 | |
Gordonia | 5,925 | 70.72 | 2,453 | 29.28 | 71 | 8,449 | 9,289 | 90.96 | |
Graaff-Reinet | 5,576 | 68.55 | 2,558 | 31.45 | 66 | 8,200 | 8,876 | 92.38 | |
Green Point | 1,784 | 16.52 | 9,018 | 83.48 | 39 | 10,841 | 12,350 | 87.78 | |
Hottentots-Holland | 5,688 | 56.19 | 4,434 | 43.81 | 57 | 10,179 | 10,876 | 93.59 | |
Humansdorp | 6,269 | 65.04 | 3,369 | 34.96 | 52 | 9,690 | 10,298 | 94.10 | |
Cape Town Gardens | 3,706 | 31.08 | 8,217 | 68.92 | 47 | 11,970 | 13,467 | 88.88 | |
Kimberley North | 6,438 | 59.89 | 4,312 | 40.11 | 12 | 10,762 | 11,885 | 90.55 | |
Kimberley South | 6,067 | 54.33 | 5,099 | 45.67 | 87 | 11,253 | 12,292 | 91.55 | |
King William’s Town | 3,104 | 29.20 | 7,525 | 70.80 | 27 | 10,656 | 11,294 | 94.35 | |
Kuruman | 6,225 | 69.11 | 2,782 | 30.89 | 50 | 9,057 | 9,747 | 92.92 | |
Maitland | 3,866 | 35.48 | 7,029 | 64.52 | 44 | 10,939 | 12,099 | 90.41 | |
Malmesbury | 7,463 | 74.44 | 2,562 | 25.56 | 92 | 10,117 | 10,790 | 93.76 | |
Moorreesburg | 6,636 | 74.54 | 2,267 | 25.46 | 67 | 8,970 | 9,738 | 92.11 | |
Mossel Bay | 6,939 | 75.02 | 2,311 | 24.98 | 71 | 9,321 | 9,984 | 93.36 | |
Namakwaland | 6,686 | 76.51 | 2,053 | 23.49 | 140 | 8,879 | 9,912 | 89.58 | |
East London North | 2,294 | 18.95 | 9,812 | 81.05 | 116 | 12,222 | 12,993 | 94.07 | |
East London City | 2,662 | 23.85 | 8,499 | 76.15 | 53 | 11,214 | 12,391 | 90.50 | |
Oudtshoorn | 7,342 | 78.05 | 2,065 | 21.95 | 73 | 9,480 | 10,438 | 90.82 | |
Paarl | 7,314 | 69.08 | 3,273 | 30.92 | 81 | 10,668 | 11,498 | 92.78 | |
Parow | 9,300 | 75.73 | 2,980 | 24.27 | 68 | 12,348 | 13,582 | 90.91 | |
Pinelands | 2,143 | 18.26 | 9,593 | 81.74 | 16 | 11,752 | 12,687 | 92.63 | |
Piketberg | 7,385 | 86.04 | 1,198 | 13.96 | 48 | 8,631 | 9,286 | 92.95 | |
Port Elizabeth North | 7,143 | 57.67 | 5,244 | 42.33 | 61 | 12,448 | 13,586 | 91.62 | |
Port Elizabeth Central | 4,149 | 36.30 | 7,280 | 63.70 | 43 | 11,472 | 12,576 | 91.22 | |
Port Elizabeth South | 2,645 | 21.63 | 9,583 | 78.37 | 33 | 12,261 | 13,217 | 92.77 | |
Port Elizabeth West | 3,926 | 28.17 | 10,009 | 71.83 | 55 | 13,990 | 14,734 | 94.95 | |
Prieska | 5,209 | 61.12 | 3,313 | 38.88 | 45 | 8,567 | 9,154 | 93.59 | |
Queenstown | 5,257 | 49.43 | 5,378 | 50.57 | 14 | 10,649 | 11,112 | 95.83 | |
Rondebosch | 1,622 | 13.43 | 10,456 | 86.57 | 36 | 12,114 | 13,301 | 91.08 | |
Sea Point | 1,077 | 9.01 | 10,877 | 90.99 | 38 | 11,992 | 12,798 | 93.70 | |
Simonstown | 2,591 | 21.92 | 9,229 | 78.08 | 57 | 11,877 | 13,017 | 91.24 | |
Somerset East | 6,025 | 68.87 | 2,723 | 31.13 | 101 | 8,849 | 9,375 | 94.39 | |
Salt River | 1,936 | 20.85 | 7,349 | 79.15 | 64 | 9,349 | 10,610 | 88.11 | |
Stellenbosch | 8,086 | 67.82 | 3,836 | 32.18 | 27 | 11,949 | 13,194 | 90.56 | |
Swellendam | 5,602 | 59.77 | 3,771 | 40.23 | 70 | 9,443 | 10,103 | 93.47 | |
Transkeian Territories | 2,316 | 25.93 | 6,616 | 74.07 | 103 | 9,035 | 9,698 | 93.16 | |
Uitenhage | 8,938 | 65.98 | 4,609 | 34.02 | 77 | 13,624 | 14,624 | 93.16 | |
False Bay | 6,517 | 58.42 | 4,638 | 41.58 | 42 | 11,197 | 12,408 | 90.24 | |
Vasco | 7,138 | 63.41 | 4,119 | 36.59 | 56 | 11,313 | 12,660 | 89.36 | |
Vryburg | 6,408 | 68.57 | 2,937 | 31.43 | 59 | 9,404 | 10,303 | 91.27 | |
Worcester | 6,793 | 66.63 | 3,402 | 33.37 | 20 | 10,215 | 11,287 | 90.50 | |
Wynberg | 2,480 | 22.85 | 8,375 | 77.15 | 22 | 10,877 | 11,932 | 91.16 | |
Natal |
Drakensberg | 3,801 | 41.54 | 5,349 | 58.46 | 50 | 9,200 | 9,956 | 92.41 |
Durban—Berea | 1,010 | 8.34 | 11,098 | 91.66 | 22 | 12,130 | 12,916 | 93.91 | |
Durban—Musgrave | 823 | 6.93 | 11,053 | 93.07 | 42 | 11,918 | 12,769 | 93.34 | |
Durban North | 1,282 | 10.09 | 11,426 | 89.91 | 27 | 12,735 | 13,507 | 94.28 | |
Durban Point | 1,554 | 12.33 | 11,049 | 87.67 | 28 | 12,631 | 14,156 | 89.23 | |
Durban Central | 1,445 | 13.16 | 9,538 | 86.84 | 21 | 11,004 | 12,120 | 90.79 | |
Durban-Umbilo | 1,766 | 15.62 | 9,537 | 84.38 | 45 | 11,348 | 12,386 | 91.62 | |
Durban Umlazi | 2,706 | 23.15 | 8,983 | 76.85 | 32 | 11,721 | 12,675 | 92.47 | |
Natal South Coast | 1,669 | 17.70 | 7,761 | 82.30 | 14 | 9,444 | 10,206 | 92.53 | |
Newcastle | 5,793 | 59.98 | 3,865 | 40.02 | 54 | 9,712 | 10,446 | 92.97 | |
Pietermaritzburg District | 1,890 | 17.84 | 8,705 | 82.16 | 84 | 10,679 | 11,496 | 92.89 | |
Pietermaritzburg City | 3,689 | 29.12 | 8,978 | 70.88 | 84 | 12,751 | 13,866 | 91.96 | |
Pinetown | 1,705 | 15.90 | 9,016 | 84.10 | 46 | 10,767 | 11,520 | 93.46 | |
Umhlatuzana | 3,887 | 29.05 | 9,495 | 70.95 | 50 | 13,432 | 14,473 | 92.81 | |
Vryheid | 5,613 | 63.87 | 3,175 | 36.13 | 55 | 8,843 | 9,554 | 92.56 | |
Zululand | 3,666 | 35.81 | 6,570 | 64.19 | 34 | 10,270 | 11,057 | 92.88 | |
Orange Free State |
Bethlehem | 7,689 | 82.56 | 1,624 | 17.44 | 87 | 9,400 | 10,400 | 90.38 |
Bloemfontein District | 8,773 | 84.33 | 1,630 | 15.67 | 29 | 10,432 | 11,803 | 88.38 | |
Bloemfontein East | 8,390 | 68.12 | 3,926 | 31.88 | 23 | 12,339 | 14,438 | 85.46 | |
Bloemfontein West | 8,468 | 65.35 | 4,490 | 34.65 | 22 | 12,980 | 14,551 | 89.20 | |
Fauresmith—Boshof | 7,174 | 82.08 | 1,566 | 17.92 | 45 | 8,785 | 9,333 | 94.13 | |
Harrismith | 6,969 | 82.04 | 1,526 | 17.96 | 43 | 8,538 | 9,195 | 92.85 | |
Heilbron | 8,328 | 78.42 | 2,292 | 21.58 | 85 | 10,705 | 11,751 | 91.10 | |
Kroonstad | 7,913 | 79.11 | 2,090 | 20.89 | 54 | 10,057 | 11,057 | 90.96 | |
Ladybrand | 6,315 | 76.25 | 1,967 | 23.75 | 146 | 8,428 | 9,154 | 92.07 | |
Odendaalsrus | 8,517 | 75.11 | 2,823 | 24.89 | 44 | 11,384 | 13,277 | 85.74 | |
Smithfield | 6,997 | 81.10 | 1,631 | 18.90 | 58 | 8,686 | 9,247 | 93.93 | |
Vredefort | 7,343 | 81.08 | 1,713 | 18.92 | 45 | 9,101 | 10,158 | 89.59 | |
Welkom | 9,437 | 67.01 | 4,647 | 32.99 | 50 | 14,134 | 16,147 | 87.53 | |
Winburg | 7,858 | 83.85 | 1,513 | 16.15 | 67 | 9,438 | 10,332 | 91.35 | |
South-West Africa |
Etosha | 3,692 | 70.82 | 1,521 | 29.18 | 55 | 5,268 | 6,004 | 87.74 |
Karas | 2,933 | 58.37 | 2,092 | 41.63 | 44 | 5,069 | 5,533 | 91.61 | |
Middelland | 3,347 | 61.09 | 2,132 | 38.91 | 36 | 5,515 | 6,247 | 88.28 | |
Namib | 2,911 | 59.35 | 1,994 | 40.65 | 51 | 4,956 | 5,600 | 88.50 | |
Omaruru | 3,341 | 65.79 | 1,737 | 34.21 | 45 | 5,123 | 6,063 | 84.50 | |
Windhoek | 3,714 | 59.38 | 2,541 | 40.62 | 49 | 6,304 | 7,688 | 82.00 | |
Transvaal |
Alberton | 8,154 | 68.48 | 3,753 | 31.52 | 32 | 11,939 | 13,457 | 88.72 |
Benoni | 4,400 | 40.38 | 6,497 | 59.62 | 36 | 10,933 | 12,266 | 89.13 | |
Bethal-Middelburg | 5,977 | 66.35 | 3,031 | 33.65 | 54 | 9,062 | 9,897 | 91.56 | |
Bezuidenhout | 2,279 | 21.44 | 8,352 | 78.56 | 35 | 10,666 | 12,031 | 88.65 | |
Boksburg | 6,871 | 54.22 | 5,801 | 45.78 | 63 | 12,735 | 13,798 | 92.30 | |
Brakpan | 6,796 | 61.72 | 4,215 | 38.28 | 22 | 11,033 | 12,496 | 88.29 | |
Brits | 7,038 | 77.67 | 2,023 | 22.33 | 81 | 9,142 | 10,018 | 91.26 | |
Christiana | 6,760 | 73.17 | 2,479 | 26.83 | 68 | 9,307 | 9,931 | 93.72 | |
Edenvale | 7,265 | 59.26 | 4,994 | 40.74 | 46 | 12,305 | 13,932 | 88.32 | |
Ermelo | 5,745 | 64.30 | 3,190 | 35.70 | 100 | 9,035 | 9,907 | 91.20 | |
Florida | 4,808 | 40.00 | 7,212 | 60.00 | 16 | 12,036 | 12,823 | 93.86 | |
Geduld | 7,640 | 64.07 | 4,284 | 35.93 | 40 | 11,964 | 13,520 | 88.49 | |
Germiston | 6,848 | 66.87 | 3,393 | 33.13 | 53 | 10,294 | 11,940 | 86.21 | |
Germiston District | 3,972 | 33.11 | 8,026 | 66.89 | 62 | 12,060 | 13,353 | 90.32 | |
Groblersdal | 7,129 | 79.98 | 1,784 | 20.02 | 56 | 8,969 | 9,811 | 91.42 | |
Heidelberg | 7,072 | 72.95 | 2,622 | 27.05 | 39 | 9,733 | 10,880 | 89.46 | |
Hercules | 9,502 | 84.92 | 1,687 | 15.08 | 30 | 11,219 | 13,095 | 85.67 | |
Hillbrow | 1,285 | 11.64 | 9,757 | 88.36 | 33 | 11,075 | 12,683 | 87.32 | |
Hospital | 2,162 | 23.78 | 6,929 | 76.22 | 30 | 9,121 | 11,012 | 82.83 | |
Houghton | 1,153 | 9.85 | 10,555 | 90.15 | 31 | 11,739 | 12,721 | 92.28 | |
Innesdal | 8,283 | 72.70 | 3,110 | 27.30 | 26 | 11,419 | 12,566 | 90.87 | |
Jeppes | 3,259 | 33.54 | 6,459 | 66.46 | 47 | 9,765 | 11,647 | 83.84 | |
Johannesburg North | 1,488 | 12.26 | 10,652 | 87.74 | 23 | 12,163 | 13,067 | 93.08 | |
Kempton Park | 8,577 | 66.97 | 4,231 | 33.03 | 68 | 12,876 | 14,276 | 90.19 | |
Kensington | 1,824 | 16.54 | 9,207 | 83.46 | 15 | 11,046 | 12,130 | 91.06 | |
Klerksdorp | 9,452 | 70.17 | 4,018 | 29.83 | 19 | 13,489 | 15,192 | 88.79 | |
Krugersdorp | 7,107 | 63.95 | 4,007 | 36.05 | 66 | 11,180 | 12,787 | 87.43 | |
Langlaagte | 6,853 | 61.76 | 4,244 | 38.24 | 50 | 11,147 | 12,340 | 90.33 | |
Lichtenburg | 7,333 | 79.55 | 1,885 | 20.45 | 31 | 9,249 | 10,094 | 91.63 | |
Losberg | 6,231 | 63.87 | 3,525 | 36.13 | 73 | 9,829 | 10,864 | 90.47 | |
Lydenburg—Barberton | 5,589 | 65.35 | 2,964 | 34.65 | 130 | 8,683 | 9,558 | 90.85 | |
Maraisburg | 7,412 | 70.81 | 3,055 | 29.19 | 41 | 10,508 | 12,332 | 85.21 | |
Marico | 5,756 | 68.56 | 2,640 | 31.44 | 39 | 8,435 | 9,073 | 92.97 | |
Mayfair | 6,278 | 65.49 | 3,308 | 34.51 | 74 | 9,660 | 11,256 | 85.82 | |
Nelspruit | 6,359 | 66.21 | 3,246 | 33.79 | 18 | 9,623 | 10,548 | 91.23 | |
Nigel | 6,883 | 64.74 | 3,749 | 35.26 | 29 | 10,661 | 11,660 | 91.43 | |
North East Rand | 2,875 | 24.29 | 8,959 | 75.71 | 32 | 11,866 | 12,805 | 92.67 | |
North West Rand | 6,700 | 57.42 | 4,969 | 42.58 | 37 | 11,706 | 12,711 | 92.09 | |
Orange Grove | 889 | 7.42 | 11,086 | 92.58 | 51 | 12,026 | 12,671 | 94.91 | |
Parktown | 1,038 | 8.89 | 10,640 | 91.11 | 29 | 11,707 | 12,491 | 93.72 | |
Pietersburg | 6,925 | 74.67 | 2,349 | 25.33 | 71 | 9,345 | 10,440 | 89.51 | |
Potchefstroom | 8,288 | 74.13 | 2,893 | 25.87 | 77 | 11,258 | 12,767 | 88.18 | |
Pretoria District | 7,086 | 65.28 | 3,768 | 34.72 | 33 | 10,887 | 11,845 | 91.91 | |
Pretoria East | 9,834 | 69.65 | 4,286 | 30.35 | 44 | 14,164 | 15,537 | 91.16 | |
Pretoria—Rissik | 5,664 | 44.89 | 6,954 | 55.11 | 26 | 12,644 | 13,848 | 91.31 | |
Pretoria Central | 6,958 | 71.46 | 2,779 | 28.54 | 14 | 9,751 | 11,607 | 84.01 | |
Pretoria—Sunnyside | 7,774 | 57.59 | 5,724 | 42.41 | 42 | 13,540 | 15,080 | 89.79 | |
Pretoria West | 8,453 | 75.12 | 2,799 | 24.88 | 54 | 11,306 | 13,324 | 84.85 | |
Prinshof | 7,709 | 67.28 | 3,749 | 32.72 | 35 | 11,493 | 13,540 | 84.88 | |
Randfontein | 6,918 | 64.37 | 3,830 | 35.63 | 77 | 10,825 | 11,911 | 90.88 | |
Roodepoort | 8,074 | 66.18 | 4,126 | 33.82 | 49 | 12,249 | 13,314 | 92.00 | |
Rosettenville | 2,631 | 22.95 | 8,833 | 77.05 | 46 | 11,510 | 12,834 | 89.68 | |
Rustenburg | 6,398 | 68.26 | 2,975 | 31.74 | 45 | 9,418 | 10,323 | 91.23 | |
Soutpansberg | 6,859 | 73.52 | 2,470 | 26.48 | 74 | 9,403 | 10,332 | 91.01 | |
Springs | 4,525 | 39.08 | 7,053 | 60.92 | 73 | 11,651 | 12,790 | 91.09 | |
Standerton | 6,003 | 64.00 | 3,376 | 36.00 | 66 | 9,445 | 10,286 | 91.82 | |
Turffontein | 3,974 | 35.06 | 7,360 | 64.94 | 70 | 11,404 | 12,772 | 89.29 | |
Vanderbijl Park | 9,497 | 74.63 | 3,229 | 25.37 | 35 | 12,761 | 13,877 | 91.96 | |
Ventersdorp | 6,695 | 67.64 | 3,203 | 32.36 | 91 | 9,989 | 11,026 | 90.59 | |
Vereeniging | 6,833 | 57.63 | 5,024 | 42.37 | 55 | 11,912 | 12,948 | 92.00 | |
Von Brandis | 2,319 | 24.54 | 7,131 | 75.46 | 50 | 9,500 | 11,210 | 84.75 | |
Wakketstroom | 6,443 | 73.22 | 2,357 | 26.78 | 63 | 8,863 | 9,545 | 92.85 | |
Waterberg | 7,576 | 85.97 | 1,236 | 14.03 | 38 | 8,850 | 9,652 | 91.69 | |
Westdene | 6,960 | 65.09 | 3,733 | 34.91 | 28 | 10,721 | 11,936 | 89.82 | |
Witbank | 6,439 | 68.07 | 3,020 | 31.93 | 34 | 9,493 | 10,683 | 88.86 | |
Wolmaransstad | 7,192 | 74.98 | 2,400 | 25.02 | 29 | 9,621 | 10,564 | 91.07 | |
Wonderboom | 8,368 | 82.74 | 1,746 | 17.26 | 70 | 10,184 | 11,667 | 87.29 | |
Yeoville | 1,195 | 10.58 | 10,100 | 89.42 | 43 | 11,338 | 12,749 | 88.93 |
Aftermath
White reaction
Whites in the former
Our republic is the inevitable fulfilment of God's plan for our people... a plan formed in 1652 when Jan van Riebeeck arrived at the Cape... for which the defeat of our republics in 1902 was a necessary step.[50]
In the
We in Natal will have no part or parcel of this Republic. We must resist, resist, and resist it - and the Nationalist Government. I have contracted Natal out of a republic on the strongest possible moral grounds that I can enunciate.[52]
Mitchell led a delegation from Natal seeking greater autonomy for the province, but without success.
In a conciliatory gesture to English-speaking whites, and a recognition that some had supported him in the referendum, Verwoerd appointed two English-speaking members to his cabinet.[40]
Black reaction
On 25 March 1961, in response to the referendum, the ANC held an All-In African Congress in Pietermaritzburg attended by 1398 delegates from all over the country.[56] It passed a resolution declaring that "no Constitution or form of Government decided without the participation of the African people who form an absolute majority of the population can enjoy moral validity or merit support either within South Africa or beyond its borders".[57]
It called for a National Convention, and the organising of mass demonstrations on the eve of what Nelson Mandela described as "the unwanted republic", if the government failed to call one.[58] He wrote:
The adoption of this part of the resolution did not mean that conference preferred a monarchy to a republican form of government. Such considerations were unimportant and irrelevant. The point at issue, and which was emphasised over and over again by delegates, was that a minority Government had decided to proclaim a White Republic under which the living conditions of the African people would continue to deteriorate.[59]
A three-day general strike was called in protest at the declaration of a republic, but Verwoerd responded by cancelling all police leaves, calling up 5,000 armed reservists of the Citizen Force, and ordering the arrest of thousands in black townships, although Mandela, by now head of the underground movement, managed to escape arrest.[1]
Commonwealth reaction
Originally every independent country in the Commonwealth was a Dominion with the British monarch as head of state. The 1949 London Declaration prior to India becoming a republic allowed countries with a different head of state to join or remain in the Commonwealth, but only by unanimous consent of the other members. The governments of Pakistan (in 1956) and, later, Ghana (in 1960) availed themselves of this principle, and the National Party had not ruled out South Africa's continued membership of the Commonwealth were there a vote in favour of a republic.[60]
However, the Commonwealth by 1960 included new
Many Afrikaners welcomed this as a clean break with the
In a speech made following the announcement, Verwoerd said:
I appeal to the English-speaking people of South Africa not to allow themselves to be hurt, though I can feel their sadness. A framework has fallen away, but what is of greater importance is friendship and getting together as one nation – as white people who have to defend their future together. Now there is a chance of standing together – one free country standing together on a basis which is the desire of friendship with Great Britain.[66]
Following the end of apartheid, South Africa rejoined the Commonwealth, thirty-three years to the day that the republic was established.[67]
Establishment of Republic
Inauguration of State President
The
Legal and heraldic changes
Other symbolic changes also occurred:
- Legal references to "the Crown" were replaced by those to "the State".[70]
- Oaths of allegiance were no longer to the Queen, but to the Republic of South Africa.[70]
- Senior Counsels.[71]
- The "Royal" title was dropped from the names of some Natal Carbineers.[72] However, some institutions retained the "Royal" title, such as the Royal Natal National Park and the Royal Society of South Africa[73]
- The
Despite the change to republican status, the coat of arms of Natal continued to display a crown, which had only been added to the arms in 1954, although this was neither the St Edward's Crown, with which the Queen had been crowned, nor the Tudor Crown, used by previous British monarchs, but a distinctive design.[75]
Other references to the monarchy had been removed before the establishment of a republic:
- In 1952, the title of South African Navy vessels HMSAS (His Majesty's South African Ship) had been changed to SAS (South African Ship)[76]
- In 1957, the Crown had been removed from the badges of the defence force and police,[77] or replaced with the Union Lion from the crest of the country's coat of arms[78]
- In 1958, the inscription '"O.H.M.S." (On Her Majesty's Service), used on official mail, was replaced with "On Government Service".[77]
The new
Constitutional changes
The most notable difference between the Constitution of the Republic and that of the Union was that the State President was the ceremonial head of state, in place of the Queen and Governor-General.[68] The title of "State President" (Staatspresident in Afrikaans) was previously used for the heads of state of both the South African Republic[80] and the Orange Free State.[81]
The National Party decided against having an executive presidency, instead adopting a minimalist approach, as a conciliatory gesture to whites who were opposed to a republic;[82] the office did not become an executive post until 1984.[83] Similarly, the Union Jack remained a feature of the country's flag until 1994, despite its unpopularity among many Afrikaners, and a proposal to adopt a new design on the tenth anniversary of the republic in 1971.[84]
Under the new Constitution, Afrikaans and English remained official languages, but the status of Afrikaans in relation to Dutch was altered; whereas the South Africa Act had made Dutch an official language alongside English, with Dutch defined to include Afrikaans under the Official Languages of the Union Act in 1925, the 1961 Constitution reversed this by making Afrikaans an official language alongside English, defining Afrikaans to include Dutch.[85]
Public holidays
The change in South Africa's constitutional status also resulted in changes to the country's
Notes
- ^ The total number of registered voters for constituencies is one less than the national figure, with the discrepancy in Transvaal Province.
References
- ^ TIME, 9 June 1961
- ^ The Statesman's Year-Book 1975-76, J. Paxton, 1976, Macmillan, page 1289
- ^ "Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd". South African History Online. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
On 5 October 1960 a referendum was held in which White voters were asked "Do you support a republic for the Union?" — 52 percent voted 'Yes'.
- ^ South Africa, Department of Information, 1986, page 131
- ^ Ethnic Nationalism and State Power: The Rise of Irish Nationalism, Afrikaner Nationalism and Zionism, M. Suzman, Macmillan, 2016, page 151
- ^ Christian Nationalism and the Rise of the Afrikaner Broederbond in South Africa, 1918-48, Charles Bloomberg, Macmillan, page 159
- ^ Oxwagon Sentinel: Radical Afrikaner Nationalism and the History of the 'Ossewabrandwag, Christoph Marx, LIT Verlag Münster, 2009, page 405
- ^ Afrikaner Politics in South Africa, 1934-1948, Newell M Stultz, University of California Press, 1974, page 82
- ^ The Diplomacy of Isolation: South African Foreign Policy Making, Deon Geldenhuys, South African Institute of International Affairs, Macmillan, 1984, page 31
- ^ Afrikaners: Their Last Great Trek, Graham Leach, Macmillan London, 1989, page 37
- ^ The Lion and the Springbok: Britain and South Africa Since the Boer War, Ronald Hyam, Peter Henshaw, Cambridge University Press, 2003, page 280
- ^ Turning Points in History, Book 4, Bill Nasson, Rob Siebörger, Institute for Justice and Reconciliation, 2004
- ^ .
- ^ STRIJDOM ABATES ZEAL FOR REPUBLIC; Premier Says He Will Not Try to Change South Africa's Status Before 1958, The New York Times, 15 September 1955
- ^ STRIJDOM DETAILS REPUBLIC POLICY; South African Chief Pledges One Flag, One People, but Will Retain Race Laws, The New York Times, 20 December 1955
- ^ South Africa and the World: The Foreign Policy of Apartheid, Amry Vandenbosch, University Press of Kentucky, 2015, page 180
- Toledo Blade, 30 January 1958
- ^ The Rise of Afrikanerdom: Power, Apartheid, and the Afrikaner Civil Religion, T. Dunbar Moodie, University of California Press, 1975, page 283
- ^ White Laager: The Rise of Afrikaner Nationalism, William Henry Vatcher, Praeger, 1965, pages 171-172
- ^ Statutes of the Union of South Africa, Government Print. and Stationery Office, 1960, page xi
- ^ Parliaments of South Africa, J J N Cloete, J.L. van Schaik, 1985, page 49
- ^ Nationalism and New States in Africa: From about 1935 to the Present, Ali AlʼAmin Mazrui, Michael Tidy, Heinemann Educational Books, 1984, page 162
- ^ a b South Africa: A Modern History, T. Davenport, C. Saunders, Palgrave Macmillan, 2000, page 416
- ^ Afrikaner Politics in South Africa, 1934-1948, Newell M. Stultz, University of California Press, 1974, pp. 160-1 161
- ^ General Elections in South Africa: 1943-1970, Kenneth A. Heard, Oxford University Press, 1974, ages 102-115
- ^ The White Tribe of Africa, David Harrison, University of California Press, 1983, pp. 160-161
- Independent Online, 5 October 2012
- ^ The White Tribe of Africa, David Harrison, University of California Press, 1983, page 163
- ^ Power, Pride & Prejudice: The Years of Afrikaner Nationalist Rule in South Africa, Henry Kenney J. Ball Publishers, 1991
- ^ The Bell Tolls In Africa Archived 26 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine, The Tablet, 5 March 1960
- ^ ISBN 9780719038730.
- ^ Natalians First: Separatism in South Africa, 1909-1961, Paul Singer Thompson, Southern Book Publishers, 1990, pages 154-156
- ^ South African Historical Journal, Issues 14-18, South African Historical Society, 1982, page 90
- ^ Whirlwind, Hurricane, Howling Tempest: The Wind of Change and the British World, Stuart Ward, in The Wind of Change: Harold Macmillan and British Decolonization, L. Butler, S. Stockwell, Springer, 2013, page 55
- ^ The Road to Democracy in South Africa: 1960-1970 Archived 12 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine, South African Democracy Education Trust, Zebra, 2004, page 216
- ^ A Life for Freedom: The Mission to End Racial Injustice in South Africa, Denis Goldberg, University Press of Kentucky, 2015, page 50
- ^ The Lion and the Springbok: Britain and South Africa Since the Boer War, Ronald Hyam, Peter Henshaw, Cambridge University Press, 2003, page 301
- ^ Statutes of the Union of South Africa, Government Print and Stationery Office, 1960, page 666
- ISBN 9780230802209.
- ^ a b The History of South Africa, Roger B. Beck, Greenwood Publishing Group, 2000, page 147
- ^ NOW IS THE TIME FOR OUR REPUBLIC!!, Various Referendum campaign posters for and against becoming a republic 1960, University of South Africa Institutional Repository, 17 May 2013
- ^ Architect of Apartheid: H.F. Verwoerd, an Appraisal, Henry Kenney, J. Ball, 1980, page 199
- ^ The Central African Examiner, Volume 4, page 177
- ^ South Africa's Foreign Policy, 1945-1970, James P. Barber, Oxford University Press, 1973, page 120
- ^ YOU WILL SUFFER IF WE LOSE COMMONWEALTH MARKETS, Various Referendum campaign posters for and against becoming a republic 1960, University of South Africa Institutional Repository, 17 May 2013
- ^ YOU NEED FRIENDS, Various Referendum campaign posters for and against becoming a republic 1960, University of South Africa Institutional Repository, 17 May 2013
- Sydney Morning Herald, 3 October 1960
- ^ YOUR VOTE IS VITAL, Various Referendum campaign posters for and against becoming a republic 1960, University of South Africa Institutional Repository, 17 May 2013
- ^ General Elections in South Africa, 1943-1970, Kenneth A. Heard, Oxford University Press, 1974, page 116
- ^ Christian Nationalism and the Rise of the Afrikaner Broederbond in South Africa, 1918-48, Charles Bloomberg, Macmillan, 1989, page xxi
- ^ Natalians First: Separatism in South Africa, 1909-1961, Paul Singer Thompson, Southern Book Publishers, 1990, page 167
- ^ The Biography of Douglas Mitchell, Terry Wilks, King & Wilks Publishers, 1980, page 42
- ^ Architect of Apartheid: H.F. Verwoerd, an Appraisal, Henry Kenney, J. Ball, 1980, page 202
- Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, 11 October 1960
- ^ Natal Told Not to Be Hasty, The Age, 11 October 1960
- ^ All-In African Congress Archived 9 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine African National Congress
- ^ Nelson Mandela: The Struggle Is My Life, Popular Prakashan, 1990, page 97
- ^ Nelson Mandela: A Life in Photographs, David Elliot Cohen, John D. Battersby, Sterling Publishing Company, Inc., 2009, page 61
- ^ No Easy Walk to Freedom, Nelson Mandela, Heinemann, 1973, page 91
- ^ The Conservative Government and the End of Empire 1957-1964: Economics, international relations, and the Commonwealth, Ronald Hyam, Stationery Office, 2000, page 409
- ISBN 9780199214235.
- Toledo Blade, 6 October 1960
- ^ South Africa: Background to the Crisis, Michael Attwell, Sidgwick & Jackson, page 97
- ^ Decision to quit was "inevitable", The Sun-Herald, 19 March 1961
- ^ Douglas Mitchell (1896-1988): A Personal Memoir, Natalia, Volume 19, 1989, page 64
- Glasgow Herald, 30 May 1961
- ^ South Africa returns to the Commonwealth fold, The Independent, 31 May 1994
- ^ a b South African Government, Anthony Hocking, Macdonald South Africa, 1977, page 8
- ^ South African Law Journal, Volume 78, Juta, 1961, page 249
- ^ a b Justice of the Peace and Local Government Review, Volume 125, Justice of the Peace Limited, 1961, page 1875
- ^ The Oxford Companion to Law, David M. Walker, 1980, page 1162
- ^ Web of Experience: An Autobiography, Jack Vincent, J. Vincent, 1988, page 38
- ^ home page of Royal Society of South Africa web site
- ^ The Mace of Parliament Archived 5 November 2016 at the Wayback Machine, InSession, Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, January–February 2013
- ^ Heraldry In Natal, The Natal Society's Annual Lecture delivered by the State Herald, Frederick Gordon Brownell, on Friday 27 March 1987, Natalia, page 18
- ^ Scientiae Militaria, Volume 27, Faculty of Military Science (Military Academy), University of Stellenbosch, 1997, page 71
- ^ Toledo Blade, 30 January 1958
- ^ The South African flag book: the history of South African flags from Dias to Mandela, A. P. Burgers, Protea Book House, 2008, page 166
- The Witness, 12 September 2012
- ^ South African Treaties, Conventions, Agreements and State Papers, Subsisting on the 1st Day of September, 1898: Compiled by Order of the Right Honourable Sir J. Gordon Sprigg, Prime Minister, W. A. Richards & Sons, 1898, page 48
- ^ Sketch of the Orange Free State of South Africa, Orange Free State. Commission at the International Exhibition, Philadelphia, 1876, pages 10-12
- ^ The White Tribe of Africa, David Harrison, University of California Press, 1983, page 161
- ^ South Africa's Foreign Policy: The Search for Status and Security, 1945-1988, James Barber, John Barratt, CUP Archive, 1990, page 292
- Glasgow Herald, 12 September 1968
- ^ Mixed Jurisdictions Worldwide: The Third Legal Family, Vernon V. Palmer, Cambridge University Press, 2001, page 141
- ^ State of South Africa; Economic, Financial and Statistical Yearbook for the Union of South Africa, Closer Union Society, Da Gama Publishers, 1961, page 127
- ^ Statutes of the Republic of South Africa, Part 2, Government Printer, 1961, page 1046
- ^ Debates of the House of Assembly, Volume 76, Cape Times, 1952, page 10231
- ^ Debates of the House of Assembly, Volume 77, Cape Times, 1952, page 1495
External links
- South Africa Votes Republican (1960), British Pathé
- South Africa Goes (1961), British Pathé
- South Africa Inaugurates First President AKA Republic Day South Africa (1961), British Pathé
- Dr. Verwoerd Makes A Statement As South Africa Becomes A Republic (1961), British Pathé
- Various Referendum campaign posters for and against becoming a republic. Dated 1960., University of South Africa