On May 31, 1910, the Cape Colony, Natal Colony, Transvaal, and Orange River Colony merged to form the Union of South Africa. The Union of South Africa adopted a governance system based on the United Kingdom’s political system. South Africa’s ceremonial head of state was the British monarch, who was represented by a Governor-General. The Prime Minister and Cabinet wielded real political power. The basic concepts of this system, such as three branches of government and a strong Parliament, are still in place today.
The Balfour Declaration was adopted on November 15, 1926, at the Imperial Conference. This document established equality between the British Empire’s dominions, including South Africa, and the United Kingdom. In practice, this made South Africa’s Union a self-governing dominion of the British Empire. When the Statute of Westminster was passed in 1931, the Union of South Africa became formally independent. It gave the South African Parliament the authority to make laws for South Africa without the approval of the United Kingdom Parliament.
The National Party of South Africa implemented apartheid, or institutional racial segregation, in 1948. People of color, particularly the majority black population, were denied their few rights. Racism and discrimination were used to distribute economic resources and maintain political power. The political system was dominated by the white population, particularly Afrikaners. Black people were denied the right to vote in all provinces of South Africa.
South Africa became a republic in 1961. The British monarch was succeeded as head of state by a President chosen by a minority of the population via elected representatives. The Homeland Citizens Act was passed in 1970. It built on the system of reservations for indigenous black Africans to create a system of ostensibly independent black countries. Many Black people lost their South African citizenship and became citizens of their tribe’s Bantustan. They were not recognized by the majority of the world’s countries, and their independence over internal affairs was severely limited.
The African National Congress (ANC) led the fight against the apartheid system. Following intense international and domestic pressure, the De Klerk government repealed or relaxed many apartheid laws. Apartheid was formally abolished and the Interim Constitution was passed following negotiations between the ANC, Inkatha Freedom Party, NP, and other organizations. Bantustans were dismantled and reintegrated into South Africa, and their citizens were granted South African citizenship.
The interim constitution’s established Government of National Unity (GNU) ostensibly remained in place until the 1999 national elections. The African National Congress (ANC), the National Party (NP), and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) shared executive power when the GNU was formed. On June 30, 1996, the NP withdrew from the GNU to join the opposition.
Many of the principles it established, such as racial equality, majority democracy, and minority rights, were incorporated into South Africa’s final Constitution, which was adopted in 1996 and is still in force today. It establishes the government’s structure, protects fundamental human rights, establishes accountability mechanisms, and divides legislative and executive power among the national, provincial, and local levels of government.
What did they do to help South Africa achieve democracy?
The adoption of the South African Constitution on May 8, 1996, was a watershed moment in South African democracy. With an unrivaled Bill of Rights, the Constitution is still regarded as one of the most advanced in the world by many.
What did Nelson Mandela do to help South Africa achieve democracy?
Mandela and de Klerk led efforts to end apartheid, which resulted in the 1994 multiracial general election, which Mandela won and became president of.
