The Second General Election is held in the Union of SA

Updated: 30 Sep 2019

The Second General Election is held in the Union of SA

The second general election was held in the Union of South Africa with the National Party (NP) participating for the first time. The main point at issue was whether South Africa should continue to support Britain's war effort and the results was a clear indication of the growth of Afrikaner nationalism. The party managed to make their political existence felt when it emerged as the third largest party, with twenty-seven seats in the Union Parliament. It secured seven in the Cape Province, sixteen in the Orange Free State and four in the Transvaal. The results for the other political parties counted as follows: South African Party fifty-four seats; the Unionists thirty-nine; four for the Labour Party, while independent candidates won six. General Louis Botha again became prime minister, but many of his followers voted for the new party under General J.B.M. Hertzog.

How we know this

01Wallis, F. (2000). Nuusdagboek: feite en fratse oor 1000 jaar, Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau; Swart, M.J., et al. (eds)(1980).
02Muller, C.F.J. (ed)(1981). Five Hundred years: a history of South Africa;3rd rev. ed., Pretoria: Academica, p. 404.

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). The Second General Election is held in the Union of SA. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011384

South African History Online (2011) 'The Second General Election is held in the Union of SA', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011384 (Accessed: 24 October 2026).

South African History Online, The Second General Election is held in the Union of SA [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011384, (accessed 24 October 2026).

"The Second General Election is held in the Union of SA." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011384. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

South African History Online. "The Second General Election is held in the Union of SA." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011384.