Louis Botha becomes Union’s first Prime Minister

Date: 21 May 1910
Updated: 21 May 2020

A former member of the Volksraad of the South African Republic (Transvaal), representing the Vryheid district in 1897 and also Boer general during Anglo-Boer War 2, Louis Botha, was instructed by Governor-General Herbert Gladstone to constitute a government in terms of the South Africa's Act. He then became the first Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa, which was to be inaugurated on 31 May.

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01Wallis, F. (2000). Nuusdagboek: feite en fratse oor 1000 jaar, Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau
02South African History Online, 'Louis Botha', [online], available at www.sahistory.org.za (Accessed: 21 May 2013)

Last updated · 21 May 2020

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Louis Botha becomes Union’s first Prime Minister. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011327

South African History Online (2011) 'Louis Botha becomes Union’s first Prime Minister', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011327 (Accessed: 24 July 2026).

South African History Online, Louis Botha becomes Union’s first Prime Minister [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011327, (accessed 24 July 2026).

"Louis Botha becomes Union’s first Prime Minister." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011327. Accessed 24 July 2026.

South African History Online. "Louis Botha becomes Union’s first Prime Minister." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011327.