National Party of South Africa
Leader	n/a
Founded	1914, dissolution April 9, 2005
Headquarters	n/a
Official ideology/ political position	conservatism, Afrikaner nationalism
International affiliation	n/a
Website	n/a

The National Party (Afrikaans: Nasionale Party) (with its members sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats) was the governing party of South Africa from June 4th 1948 until May 9th 1994, and was disbanded in 2005. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a republic, and the promotion of Afrikaner culture. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... 1914 (MCMXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... April 9 is the 99th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (100th in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article deals with conservatism as a political philosophy. ... Afrikaners are a European ethnic group primarily associated with Southern Africa and the Afrikaans language. ... Eugène Delacroixs Liberty Leading the People, symbolising French nationalism during the July Revolution. ... Look up Wiktionary:Swadesh lists for Afrikaans and Dutch in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A segregated beach in South Africa, 1982. ... Forms of government Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A republic is a form of government maintained by a state or country whose sovereignty is based on popular consent and whose governance is based on popular representation and control. ... Afrikaners are a European ethnic group primarily associated with Southern Africa and the Afrikaans language. ...

Founding and ideology

The National Party was founded in Bloemfontein in 1914 by Afrikaner nationalists soon after the establishment of the Union of South Africa. It first came to power in 1924, with J.B.M. Hertzog as Prime Minister. The Hertzog government worked to undermine the Coloured ("mixed race") vote by granting, in 1930, voting rights to white women, but not to Coloured women, effectively halving the voting power of the Coloured electorate. In 1934, Hertzog agreed to merge his National Party with the rival South African Party of Jan Smuts to form the United Party. A hardline faction of Afrikaner nationalists, led by D.F. Malan, refused to accept the merger and maintained a rump National Party called the Gesuiwerde Nasionale Party (Purified National Party). Opposition to South African participation in World War II was used by the Purified National Party to stir up anti-British imperialist feelings amongst Afrikaners. This led to a reunification of the Purified Nationalists with the National Party faction that had joined the United Party fusion in 1934; together, they formed the Herenigde Nasionale Party (Reunited National Party), which went on to defeat Smuts' United Party in 1948. Bloemfontein at night Bloemfontein (IPA: , Afrikaans and Dutch for fountain of Bloem (bloom) or flower fountain is the capital city of the Free State Province of South Africa. ... See also: 1913 in South Africa, other events of 1914, 1915 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history. ... Afrikaners are a European ethnic group primarily associated with Southern Africa and the Afrikaans language. ... National motto: Ex Unitate Vires (Latin: From Unity, strength} Official languages Afrikaans, Dutch and English. ... See also: 1923 in South Africa, other events of 1924, 1925 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history. ... Cover of Time Magazine (April 27, 1925) James Barry Munnik Hertzog, better known as Barry Hertzog, (1866-1942) was Prime Minister of South Africa from 1924 to 1939. ... This is a list of South African Prime Ministers. ... In the South African, Namibian, Zambian and Zimbabwean context, the term Coloured (also known as Bruinmense, Kleurlinge or Bruin Afrikaners in Afrikaans) refers to a heterogeneous group of people who posess some degree of sub-Saharan ancestry, but not enough to be considered Black under South African law. ... See also: 1929 in South Africa, other events of 1930, 1931 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history. ... See also: 1933 in South Africa, other events of 1934, 1935 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history. ... The South African Party was a liberal political party that existed in the Union of South Africa from 1911 to 1934. ... Jan Smuts Field Marshal Jan Christiaan Smuts, OM, CH, ED, KC, FRS (May 24, 1870 – September 11, 1950) was a prominent South African and Commonwealth statesman, military leader, and philosopher. ... The United Party was South Africas ruling political party between 1934 and 1948. ... Daniel François Malan (May 22, 1874 - February 7, 1959) is seen as the champion of South African nationalism. ... A Rump Party is political party that is formed by the remaining body of supporters and leaders who do not support a breakaway group who merge with or form another new party. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Herenigde Nasionale Party, Herenigde (re-united) National Party, is the name used by Daniel François Malan for the party he used to defeat Jan Smuts in the election of 1948. ... See also: 1947 in South Africa, other events of 1948, 1949 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history. ...

Upon taking power, the National Party began to implement a program of apartheid — the legal system of political and social separation of the "races" - a policy intended to maintain and extend political and economic control of South Africa by the white minority. A segregated beach in South Africa, 1982. ...

In 1951, the Bantu Self-Government Act established so-called "Homelands" (sometime pejoratively called Bantustans) for ten different black tribes. The ultimate goal of the National Party was to move all Black South Africans into one of these homelands (although they might continue to work in South Africa as "guest workers"), leaving what was left of South Africa (about 87 percent of the land area) with what would then be a White majority, at least on paper. As the homelands were seen by the apartheid government as embryonic independent nations, all black South Africans were registered as citizens of the homelands, not of the nation as a whole, and were expected to exercise their political rights only in the homelands. Accordingly, the three token parliamentary seats that had been reserved for white representatives of black South Africans in Cape Province were scrapped. The other three provinces – Transvaal, the Orange Free State, and Natal – had never allowed any black representation. See also: 1950 in South Africa, other events of 1951, 1952 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history. ... Bantustan refers to any of the territories designated as tribal homelands for black South Africans during the Apartheid era. ... Under the Union of South Africa and after that under the Republic of South Africa, the old Cape Colony became the Cape of Good Hope Province (though it was commonly known as the Cape Province). ... Flag of Transvaal For the Russian theme park, see Transvaal Park. ... Capital Bloemfontein Largest city Bloemfontein Area  - Total Ranked 3rd 129,480 km² Premier Beatrice Marshoff (ANC) Population   - 2001   - 1996   - Density Ranked 8th 2,706,776 2,633,504 21/km² (2001) Languages Sotho (62%) Afrikaans (14%) isiXhosa (9. ... KwaZulu-Natal, often referred to as KZN, is a province of South Africa. ...

Coloureds (South Africans of mixed White and non-White ancestry) were removed from the Common Roll of Cape Province in 1953. Instead of voting for the same representatives as white South Africans, they could now only vote for four white representatives to speak for them. Later, in 1968, the Coloureds were disenfranchised altogether. In the place of the four parliamentary seats, a partially elected body was set up to advise the government in an amendment to the Separate Representation of Voters Act. See also: 1952 in South Africa, other events of 1953, 1954 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history. ... See also: 1967 in South Africa, other events of 1968, 1969 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history. ... Together with the 1956 amendment, the Separate Representation of Voters Act removed all Natives from the voting roll. ...

In a move unrecognised by the rest of the world, the former German colony of South West Africa (now Namibia), which South Africa had occupied in World War I, was effectively incorporated into South Africa as a fifth province, with seven members elected to represent its White citizens in the Parliament of South Africa. The White minority of South West Africa, predominantly German and Afrikaans, considered its interests akin to those of the Afrikaners in South Africa and therefore supported the National Party in subsequent elections. South-West Africa is the former name (1884-1990) of Namibia under German (as German South-West Africa, Deutsch Süd-West Afrika) and (from 1915) South African administration when it was conqured from the Germans during World War I. Following the war, the Treaty of Versailles declared the territory... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... The Parliament of South Africa is South Africas legislature and is composed of the National Assembly of South Africa and the National Council of Provinces. ...

These reforms all bolstered the National Party politically, as they removed black and Coloured influence – which was hostile to the National Party – from the electoral process, and incorporated the pro-Nationalist whites of South West Africa. The National Party increased its parliamentary majority in almost every election between 1948 and 1977. See also: 1947 in South Africa, other events of 1948, 1949 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history. ... See also: 1976 in South Africa, other events of 1977, 1978 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history. ...

Various segregation laws were passed before the National Party took complete power in 1948. Probably the most significant were The Natives Land Act, No 27 of 1913 and The Natives (Urban Areas) Act of 1923. The former made it illegal for blacks to purchase or lease land from whites except in reserves; this restricted black occupancy to less than eight per cent of South Africa's land. The latter laid the foundations for residential segregation in urban areas. Segregation laws passed by the National Party after 1948 included the Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act, the Immorality Act, The Population Registration Act and the Group Areas Act, which prohibited nonwhite males from being in certain areas of the country (especially at night) unless they were employed there.

Another goal was achieved in 1960, when the white population voted in a referendum to sever South Africa's ties with the British Monarchy and establish a republic, which led to South Africa's withdrawal from the Commonwealth. See also: 1959 in South Africa, other events of 1960, 1961 in South Africa and the Timeline of South African history. ... On October 5, 1960, South Africas white minority government held a referendum on whether or not the then Union should sever links with the British monarchy and become a republic. ... The British monarch or Sovereign is the head of state of the United Kingdom and in the British overseas territories. ... The Commonwealth of Nations as of 2006 Headquarters Marlborough House, London Leaders  -  Queen Elizabeth II  -  Secretary-General Don McKinnon (since 1999)  -  Ransford Smith Establishment  -  as British Commonwealth 1926   -  as the Commonwealth 1949  Membership 53 sovereign states Website thecommonwealth. ...

Support

The National Party won a majority of parliamentary seats in all elections during the Apartheid era. Its popular vote record was more mixed: While it won the popular vote with a comfortable margin in most general elections, the National Party carried less than 50% of the electorate in 1948, 1953, 1961, and 1989. In 1977, the National Party got its best-ever result in the elections with support of 64.8% of the white voters and 134 seats in parliament out of 165. After this the party's support declined as a proliferation of rightwing parties siphoned off important segments of its traditional voter base. Throughout its reign, the party's support came mainly from Afrikaners, but Anglo-Africans were courted by and increasingly voted for the National Party after 1960. A segregated beach in South Africa, 1982. ... Afrikaners (sometimes known as Boers) are white South Africans, predominantly of Calvinist German, French Huguenot, Friesian and Walloons descent who speak Afrikaans. ... Anglo-Africans are primarily associated with Southern Africa and British ancestry. ...

Decline

Beginning in the early 1980s, under the leadership of State President P.W. Botha, the National Party began to reform its policies. Botha legalised interracial marriages and multiracial political parties and relaxed the Group Areas Act. Botha also granted a measure of political representation to Coloureds and Indians by creating separate parliamentary chambers in which they had control of their "own affairs." Black South Africans were not included, however, and over national affairs he ensured that the white chamber of parliament retained the last word in all matters: the representatives of the white chamber had a compulsory block-vote in the electoral college to choose the State President, who had the say over which of the three chambers, or which combination of them, should consider any piece of legislation. On the central issue of granting meaningful political rights to black South Africans, Botha and the National Party refused to budge, most black political organizations remaining banned, and prominent black dissidents, including Nelson Mandela, remaining imprisoned. The 1980s refers to the years of and between 1980 and 1989. ... From 1961 to 1994, South Africas head of state was called the State President or Staatspresident in Afrikaans. ... P.W. Botha Pieter Willem Botha (January 12, 1916 – October 31, 2006), commonly known as PW and Die Groot Krokodil (Afrikaans for The Big Crocodile), was the prime minister of South Africa from 1978 to 1984 and the first executive state president from 1984 to 1989. ... The Group Areas Act of 1950 (Act No. ... An electoral college is a set of electors, who are empowered as a deliberative body to elect a candidate to a particular office. ... From 1961 to 1994, South Africas head of state was called the State President or Staatspresident in Afrikaans. ... Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (IPA pronunciation: //) (born July 18, 1918) was the first President of South Africa to be elected in fully-representative democratic elections. ...

In the midst of rising political instability, growing economic problems and diplomatic isolation, Botha resigned as National Party leader, and subsequently as State President, in 1989. He was replaced by F.W. de Klerk. Although a conservative, De Klerk realised the impracticality of maintaining apartheid forever, and soon after taking power, he decided that it would be better to negotiate while there was still time to reach a compromise, than to hold out until forced to negotiate on less favourable terms later. He persuaded the National Party to enter into negotiations with representatives of the black community. Late in 1989, the National Party won the most bitterly contested election in decades, pledging to negotiate an end to the apartheid system that it itself had established. Early in 1990, the African National Congress was legalised, and Nelson Mandela was released after twenty-seven years of imprisonment. A referendum in 1992 gave De Klerk plenipotentiary powers to negotiate with Mandela. Following the negotiations, a new constitution was drawn up, and multiracial elections were held in 1994. These elections were won by the African National Congress. The National Party remained in government, however, as a coalition partner to the ANC in the Government of National Unity until 1997, when it withdrew to become the Official Opposition. 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Frederik Willem de Klerk (born March 18, 1936) was the last State President of Apartheid South Africa, serving from September 1989 to May 1994. ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... MCMXC redirects here; for the Enigma album, see MCMXC a. ... For political parties with similar names in other countries, see Northern Rhodesian African National Congress and Zambian African National Congress. ... 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. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... The term plenipotentiary (from the Latin, plenus + potens, full + power) refers to, as a noun, a person who has, or as an adjective that confers, full powers. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ... Between April 27, 1994 and February 3, 1997 South Africa was governed under the terms of the interim Constitution of South Africa. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In 1997, the National Party also renamed itself the New National Party in order to distance itself from its past. It lasted less than a decade before its federal council voted to dissolve the party on 9 April 2005, following a decision the previous year to merge with the ANC. 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The New National Party (NNP) was a South African conservative political party formed when the National Party pulled out of the Government of National Unity with the African National Congress and decided to change its name in the process. ... April 9 is the 99th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (100th in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Leaders

• J.B.M. Hertzog (1914-1934)
• D.F. Malan (1934-1953)
• J.G. Strijdom (1953-1958)
• H.F. Verwoerd (1958-1966)
• B.J. Vorster (1966-1978)
• P.W. Botha (1978-1989)
• F.W. de Klerk (1989-1997)
• Marthinus van Schalkwyk (1997-2005) (as the New National Party)

Cover of Time Magazine (April 27, 1925) James Barry Munnik Hertzog, better known as Barry Hertzog, (1866-1942) was Prime Minister of South Africa from 1924 to 1939. ... 1914 (MCMXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... Daniel François Malan (May 22, 1874 - February 7, 1959) is seen as the champion of South African nationalism. ... 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... Johannes Gerhardus Strijdom (15 July 1893 - 24 August 1958) was Prime Minister of South Africa from 30 November 1954 to 24 August 1958. ... 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... Year 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Silver medal commemorating Verwoerds death. ... Year 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... B. J. Vorster Balthazar Johannes Vorster (December 13, 1915 - September 10, South Africa from 1966 to 1978, and President from 1978 to 1979. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... P.W. Botha Pieter Willem Botha (January 12, 1916 – October 31, 2006), commonly known as PW and Die Groot Krokodil (Afrikaans for The Big Crocodile), was the prime minister of South Africa from 1978 to 1984 and the first executive state president from 1984 to 1989. ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Frederik Willem de Klerk (born March 18, 1936) was the last State President of Apartheid South Africa, serving from September 1989 to May 1994. ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Marthinus van Schalkwyk is a South African politician, formerly both Premier of the Western Cape Province and Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of South Africa. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The New National Party (NNP) was a South African conservative political party formed when the National Party pulled out of the Government of National Unity with the African National Congress and decided to change its name in the process. ...

See also

• List of political parties in South Africa
• History of South Africa
• Apartheid

Political parties in South Africa lists political parties in South Africa. ... The history of South Africa is viewed differently by various scholars and by its various population groups because South Africa is a multicultural country. ... A segregated beach in South Africa, 1982. ...

External links

• Articles about the disbanding: Associated Press, Independent Online.