The Federal Congress of the National Party supports a set of constitutional reforms

Date: 30 Jul 1982
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

The Federal Congress of the National Party (NP) supported a set of constitutional ‘reforms’ outlined by Prime Minister P.W. Botha, and explained to the Congress by the Minister of Constitutional Affairs, Chris Heunis. If enacted, Parliamentary rule, based on the Westminster model, would be replaced by a Presidential system. These ‘reforms’ made provision for the creation of the Tri-cameral parliament which catering Coloured and Indian people with real power still concentrated in white hands. The tri-cameral structure was specifically planned to maintain NP control of legislation. At a United Democratic Front (UDF) conference held on 23 January, 1983 in Johannesburg Allen Boesak called for the formation of a ‘united front’ of various organisations to oppose the state constitutional ‘reforms’.

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How we know this

01O’Malley, P. ‘1982’ from Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, [online], available at www.nelsonmandela.org.za (Accessed: 25 June 2013)
02Seekings, J. (2000) ‘UDF: A History of United Democratic Front in South Africa, 1983-1991’, (David Philip Publishers) p. 29

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2013, July 12). The Federal Congress of the National Party supports a set of constitutional reforms. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096050

South African History Online (2013) 'The Federal Congress of the National Party supports a set of constitutional reforms', South African History Online, 12 July. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096050 (Accessed: 22 August 2026).

South African History Online, The Federal Congress of the National Party supports a set of constitutional reforms [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096050, (accessed 22 August 2026).

"The Federal Congress of the National Party supports a set of constitutional reforms." South African History Online, 12 July 2013, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096050. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "The Federal Congress of the National Party supports a set of constitutional reforms." South African History Online. July 12, 2013. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096050.