NP Natal Congress agrees to multiracial membership

With the wind of change powerfully blowing in South Africa, the National Party under the leadership of young but politically experienced F.W de Klerk, called for the opening of its membership to all races in the country. The view proved to be generally held when it received a unanimous thumbs-up at the party's provincial congress held in Durban, Natal. However, the move exhibited some elements of opportunism as the political negotiations in the country at the time were swinging in favour of the establishment of a democratic system, which implied that people of all races, for the first time, would be allowed to vote for the government. After the first democratic elections, which were held in 1994, the party formed part of the Government of National Unity (GNU) with its leader, former President F.W. de Klerk, becoming the second deputy president of the country.