National Party wins national elections

General James Barry Munnik (JBM) Hertzog's National Party (NP) wins the South African general election with an outright majority. Race plays a critical role for the first time in SA politics. Hertzog accused Smuts' party of supporting racial equality, and represented a Nationalist vote as a vote for a "White South Africa". Although the NP won for the second consecutive term, having been victorious in the 1924 elections which resulted in the Pact Government, the Great Depression, from 1930 to 1933, made the government's rule difficult. References: This week in African history: Key events from the 20th century. About.com [Online]. Available at: africanhistory.about.com/ [Accessed 09 June 2010] Chronology of Important Events: South Africa Table of Contents [Online]. Available at: http://countrystudies.us/south-africa/89.htm [Accessed 09 June 2010]