After losing the Wakkerstroom and Oudtshoorn by-elections in April, prime minister and leader of the South African Party (SAP), J.C. Smuts, decided to hold a general election in 1924. The SAP suffered a defeat at the hands of the Nationalist Party (NP), which won sixty-three seats, and Labour Party winning eighteen seats, with the SAP securing only fifty-three seats. After the election, the National Party and Labour Party formed a pact government, with General J.B.M. Hertzog in the position of prime minister. Hertzog appointed two Labour Party members, F.H.P. Creswell and Thomas Boydell to his Cabinet.
17 June 1924
J.C. Smuts calls general election

- Updated
- 30 Sep 2019

How we know this
- 01Wallis, F. (2000). Nuusdagboek: feite en fratse oor 1000 jaar, Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau
- 02Country-data South Africa National Party [online] Available at: www.country-data.com [Accessed on 17 June 2013]
Last updated · 30 Sep 2019
South African History Online. (2011, March 16). J.C. Smuts calls general election. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011464
South African History Online (2011) 'J.C. Smuts calls general election', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011464 (Accessed: 25 October 2026).
South African History Online, J.C. Smuts calls general election [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011464, (accessed 25 October 2026).
"J.C. Smuts calls general election." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011464. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.
South African History Online. "J.C. Smuts calls general election." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011464.
Also on 17 June
- 1882Natal Football Union founded
- 1893Borehole confirms estimates of huge gold deposits
- 1951Defiance campaign leadership meets with SAIC
- 1959The Cato Manor riots begin due to the ‘beer issue’ and looming forced removals
- 1969Paul Kibii Tergat Kenyan professional long distance runner is born
- 1976Parliament addresses Soweto Protests
- 1976Police increase their presence in Soweto
- 1990Nelson and Winnie Mandela travel to Canada.
Search events by date
This day in history
What happened on your birthday?
SAHO is free because readers fund it. Donate →