On 17 March, 1992 the South African white minority Government held the last "whites only" referendum on whether or not the South African white minority supported the reforms started by the State President F.W. de Klerk. President F.W. de Klerk Frederik Willem de Klerk (born March 18, 1936) is a former President of South Africa, serving from September 1989 to May 1994. ...

Before the Referendum

Prior to the referendum, the governing National Party lost three by-elections and its position was challenged by the Conservative Party which opposed a democratic State and boycotted the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA). The National Party (Afrikaans: Nasionale Party) (with its members sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats) was the governing party of South Africa from 1948 until 1994, and was disbanded in 2005. ... A by-election or bye-election is a special election held to fill a political office when the incumbent has died or resigned. ... The Conservative Party of South Africa was formed by white South Africans, mostly Afrikaners, who felt that the National Party was too ready to aquiesce to the demands of black South Africans for majority rule. ...

When the National Party was defeated in the Potchefstroom by-election on February 19th, after calling it a test vote, its credibility was placed in doubt. Potchefstroom Flag Potchefstroom is a large academic town with the North-West University, situated on the banks of the Mooi River (literally pretty river), 120 km west-southwest of Johannesburg in the North West Province of South Africa. ...

At the same time the violence was increasing in South Africa and diffrent white right wing groups where demonstrating their power. The negotiations with the ANC where going slow and there was a large dissatisfaction within the white community.

Many white business men where accused the Government for slow progress in the reforms and for the economical situation in South Africa. International boycott, that still remained, and the violence in the 90's had changed South Africa's political situation.

The Campaign

When de Klerk annouced the referendum, many were critical to the referendum, due to the fact that only whites has the right to vote. The National Party and Democratic Party campaigned for a "Yes vote", when the conservative right-wing led by the Conservative Party campaigned for a "No vote".

Much of de Klerk's effort in 1992 was directed toward appeasing and weakening his right wing opponents, the conservative defenders of apartheid who had broken with the National Party during the 1980s.

De Klerk made a effort to show to the white South Africans, that the Government was not giving the power to the ANC, but negotiating about "power sharing". The National Party and De Klerk warned the white voters that a "No" vote would mean continuation of international sanctions. The National Party also warned of the danger of civil war and internal chaos in South Africa.

The "NO" voters, led by Dr Andries Treurnicht, played with racial prejudices and warned for a "black majority rule" and for "ANC communist rule". The Conservative Party also advocated white self-determination and argued that white South Africans had the right to rule the country.

Result

The question asked was "Do you support continuation of the reform process which the State President began on February 2, 1990, and which is aimed at a new constitution through negotiation?"

• YES: 68.73% (1,924,186)
• NO: 31.27% (875,619)
• Turn-out: 85,1%

In Cape Town over 85% voted "YES" and in Pretoria over 57% voted "YES". Only Pietersburg in the Northern Transvaal, a rural right wing stronghold voted "NO". Election analysts reported that support among the Afrikaners was even slightly higher than among English speakers. City motto: Spes Bona (Latin: Good Hope) Province Western Cape Mayor Nomaindia Mfeketo Area  - % water 1,644 km² 0. ... City motto: Praestantia Praevaleat Pretoria (May Pretoria Be Pre-eminent In Excellence) Province Gauteng Mayor Smangaliso Mkhatshwa Area  - % water 1,644 km² 0. ... Afrikaners (sometimes known as Boers) are white South Africans, predominantly of Calvinist German, French Huguenot, Friesian and Walloons descent who speak Afrikaans. ...

Next day, President de Klerk said "Today we have closed the book on apartheid" as he celebrates his 56th birthday. Nelson Mandela said that he was "very happy indeed".

Aftermath

The right wing groups criticized the referendum and accused the Government for ballot rigging. The right wing lost where they had to do well, in the Afrikaner heart land and in the big cities. The neutrality of this article is disputed. ...

De Klerk and his Government could now claim that the whites where for democracy and that they had a clear mandate to negotiate with the African National Congress. The African National Congress (ANC) is a centre-left political party, and has been South Africas governing party (in a coalition) since the establishment of majority rule in May 1994. ...

The result of the referendum has been seen as the "acceptance" of a majority rule in South Africa, by the white minority.

• South Africa
• 1960 South Africa referendum
• Apartheid