South African Party
This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2008) |
South African Party Afrikaners' interests | |
---|---|
Political position | Right-wing |
Colours | Light blue |
The South African Party (
History
The outline and foundation for the party was realized after the election of a 'South African party' in the
- Het Volk from the Transvaal
- Afrikaner Bond and South African Party from the Cape Colony
- Orangia Unie from the Orange River Colony
The South African Party of the Cape Colony was launched by William Schreiner, the former attorney-general under the leadership of Cecil Rhodes. The party was intended to project a more moderate platform than that of the Afrikaner Bond. This party also advocated more peaceful relations with neighboring states, especially the Transvaal. Schreiner originally formed the party to oppose the "personal domination of Mr. Rhodes." Eventually, the Afrikaner Bond would lend their support to form a new government.[1]
Initially its main political opposition came from Unionist Party, which supported similar policies, but was more English-speaking and took an instinctively pro-British stance.
The SAP would solidify after the departure of
Rising discontent with the economic policies of the SAP during the bad economic times of the early 1920s culminated in a general strike in 1922. Though a combination of military intervention and negotiation ended the strike, the memory of it remained when the government, now a SAP-
From the beginning, a hardliner nationalist faction refused to accept the merger. The remaining nationalists later withdrew from the United Party in 1939, after which what remained was essentially the old SAP under a new name. Nevertheless, the United Party name was retained.
Electoral history
House of Assembly elections
Election | Party leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Position | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1910
|
Louis Botha | 30,052 | 28.45% | 67 / 121
|
67 | 1st | Majority government |
1915
|
94,285 | 36.67% | 54 / 130
|
15 | 1st | Majority government | |
1920
|
Jan Smuts | 101,227 | 36.48% | 41 / 134
|
13 | 2nd | Minority government |
1921
|
137,389 | 49.90% | 77 / 134
|
11 | 1st | Majority government | |
1924
|
148,769 | 47.04% | 53 / 135
|
24 | 2nd | Opposition | |
1929
|
159,896 | 46.50% | 61 / 148
|
8 | 2nd | Opposition | |
1933
|
71,486 | 22.34% | 61 / 150
|
2nd | Opposition |
Note
References
- ISBN 978-1-4587-1983-6. Archivedfrom the original on 17 February 2017.
- ^ Joyce, Peter. 1989. The South African Family Encyclopaedia