12 June 1980
The Republic of South Africa Constitution Bill received its third reading. Among its provisions were the abolition of the Senate and the creation of a sixty-member President's Council comprising of White, Coloured, Indian and Chinese representatives nominated by the State President for a five-year term. The new office that of Vice State President would be created to, inter alia, act as chairman of the President's Council. The Bill was opposed by the Progressive Federal Party (PFP) mainly on the grounds of the exclusion of Blacks.
References
Kalley, J.A.; Schoeman, E. & Andor, L.E. (eds)(1999). Southern African Political History: a chronology of key political events from independence to mid-1997, Westport: Greenwood.