New Republic Party
Encyclopedia
The New Republic Party was a South Africa
n political party. It was formed as the successor to the disbanded United Party
(UP) in 1977. After the UP wound up, initially the last UP leader, Sir de Villiers Graaff served as the interim national leader of the new party, with Radclyffe Cadman as parliamentary leader. Before the 1977 election, Graaff resigned and Cadman became the national leader. As he was defeated in the general election, a new leader was needed. Vause Raw
was elected leader of the New Republic Party.
However, a significant number of UP parliamentarians refused to remain with the new party; some joined the anti-apartheid Progressive Federal Party
and others eventually joined the ruling National Party
. The 1977 South African general election
left the New Republic Party gutted, with only 10 parliamentary seats, down from the 41 the United Party had held previously. The NRP had held 23 seats at the dissolution, in 1977. In the 1981 South African general election
the party could only retain eight of its seats.
The primary policy of the NRP was to introduce a multi-chambered parliament, with a chamber each for whites, coloureds, Indians, and urban blacks. However, in 1982 the Nationalist government announced plans for a Tricameral Parliament
, which was to represent coloureds and Indians as well as whites. Blacks were not represented, even though the government no longer officially expected them to migrate to the bantustans. Nevertheless, the Tricameral Parliament's marked similarity to the NRP's policy meant that it was increasingly difficult to strike a moderate course between the NP and the liberal Progressive Federal Party
(PFP).
In 1984, Raw was replaced as leader by Bill Sutton. However, when the NP announced its intention to talk to revolutionary groups, it gained liberal support. There was little enough space for the PFP to occupy on the left of white public opinion, and no room whatsoever for the NRP to split the difference between the NP and the PFP. The NRP won only one seat in the 1987 South African general election
. It disbanded in 1988. On dissolving the party, Sutton recommended that party members throw their support to the Independent Party
of Dennis Worrall. Sutton retained his seat until the 1989 election.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n political party. It was formed as the successor to the disbanded United Party
United Party (South Africa)
The United Party was South Africa's ruling political party between 1934 and 1948. It was formed by a merger of most of Prime Minister Barry Hertzog's National Party with the rival South African Party of Jan Smuts, plus the remnants of the Unionist Party...
(UP) in 1977. After the UP wound up, initially the last UP leader, Sir de Villiers Graaff served as the interim national leader of the new party, with Radclyffe Cadman as parliamentary leader. Before the 1977 election, Graaff resigned and Cadman became the national leader. As he was defeated in the general election, a new leader was needed. Vause Raw
Vause Raw
South African politician of the apartheid era. Born in Durban in 1921, Vause Raw was a prominent member of the United Party from the 1940s onwards. After the party disbanded in 1977, Raw was elected leader of its successor, the New Republic Party, continuing in that capacity until 1984. He served...
was elected leader of the New Republic Party.
However, a significant number of UP parliamentarians refused to remain with the new party; some joined the anti-apartheid Progressive Federal Party
Progressive Federal Party
The Progressive Federal Party was a South African political party formed in 1977. It advocated power-sharing in South Africa through a federal constitution, in place of apartheid...
and others eventually joined the ruling National Party
National Party (South Africa)
The National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
. The 1977 South African general election
South African general election, 1977
The 1977 South African general election was held on 30 November 1977. The National Party, led by John Vorster won a landslide victory in the House of Assembly. The newly formed Progressive Federal Party, led by Colin Eglin became the official opposition. The New Republic Party, successor to the...
left the New Republic Party gutted, with only 10 parliamentary seats, down from the 41 the United Party had held previously. The NRP had held 23 seats at the dissolution, in 1977. In the 1981 South African general election
South African general election, 1981
During the 1981 South African general election, the National Party achieved another landslide victory, winning 131 of 165 seats in the House of Assembly, which had become the sole legislative chamber following the abolition of the Senate that year...
the party could only retain eight of its seats.
The primary policy of the NRP was to introduce a multi-chambered parliament, with a chamber each for whites, coloureds, Indians, and urban blacks. However, in 1982 the Nationalist government announced plans for a Tricameral Parliament
Tricameral Parliament
The Tricameral Parliament was the name given to the South African parliament and its structure from 1984 to 1994, established by the South African Constitution of 1983...
, which was to represent coloureds and Indians as well as whites. Blacks were not represented, even though the government no longer officially expected them to migrate to the bantustans. Nevertheless, the Tricameral Parliament's marked similarity to the NRP's policy meant that it was increasingly difficult to strike a moderate course between the NP and the liberal Progressive Federal Party
Progressive Federal Party
The Progressive Federal Party was a South African political party formed in 1977. It advocated power-sharing in South Africa through a federal constitution, in place of apartheid...
(PFP).
In 1984, Raw was replaced as leader by Bill Sutton. However, when the NP announced its intention to talk to revolutionary groups, it gained liberal support. There was little enough space for the PFP to occupy on the left of white public opinion, and no room whatsoever for the NRP to split the difference between the NP and the PFP. The NRP won only one seat in the 1987 South African general election
South African general election, 1987
The 1987 South African general election was held on 6 May 1987. The State of Emergency existing in South Africa at that time cast a cloud over the elections. It was once again won by the National Party under the leadership of P. W...
. It disbanded in 1988. On dissolving the party, Sutton recommended that party members throw their support to the Independent Party
Independent Party (South Africa)
The Independent Party was founded in 1987 by Denis Worrall and Wynand Malan. Its purpose was to protest against the National Party's shift in policy from reform to security. It contested the 1987 election as the Independent Movement and Malan, its founder, won its only seat...
of Dennis Worrall. Sutton retained his seat until the 1989 election.