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The Mandate for Change

An in-depth analysis of the pivotal white-only referendum that paved the way for a democratic South Africa.

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What Was It?

A Pivotal White-Only Vote

The 1992 South African apartheid referendum, held on March 17, 1992, was a critical national vote exclusively for white South African voters. Its purpose was to ascertain their support for the ongoing reform process initiated by State President F. W. de Klerk, which aimed at dismantling the apartheid system established in 1948 and negotiating a new constitution. The resounding "Yes" vote ultimately sanctioned the abolition of apartheid, marking this as the final electoral event limited solely to the white electorate before the introduction of universal suffrage in 1994.

De Klerk's Reforms Begin

The referendum was a direct consequence of the significant reforms announced by State President F. W. de Klerk on February 2, 1990. In his address to parliament, de Klerk declared the unbanning of major political parties, including the African National Congress (ANC) and the South African Communist Party, and the imminent release of Nelson Mandela after 27 years of imprisonment. Further reforms included the suspension of capital punishment, the lifting of the state of emergency, and the abolition of acts restricting land ownership, separate living areas, and racial classification in 1991. These actions signaled a clear intent to negotiate a new constitutional order.

Historical Context

The Road to Negotiation

Following de Klerk's initial announcements, Nelson Mandela was released on February 11, 1990. South West Africa gained independence as Namibia on March 21, 1990, and by June, the state of emergency was lifted, with the ANC agreeing to a ceasefire. These developments set the stage for formal negotiations between the government and the ANC. However, progress was slow, leading to increasing political and social tensions across the nation.

Mounting Pressure for Change

Before the referendum, the ruling National Party faced significant challenges. It had lost three by-elections, particularly the Potchefstroom by-election on February 19, 1992, which de Klerk had declared a "test vote" for his reform agenda. This raised doubts about the government's mandate to negotiate. The Conservative Party, staunchly against the negotiations, boycotted the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA). Amid escalating violence in townships, rising prominence of right-wing groups, and growing dissatisfaction within both white and black communities, the government faced immense domestic and international pressure to advance the negotiations. De Klerk announced the referendum on February 20, stating he would resign if the "No" vote prevailed, thereby staking his political future on the outcome.

The Campaign

The "Yes" Mandate

The "Yes" campaign was spearheaded by the National Party and the Democratic Party. It benefited from extensive support from the government, the media, the international community, and a vast majority of commercial and business organizations. De Klerk framed the "Yes" vote as a mandate for "power sharing" rather than a surrender of power to the ANC. He warned that a "No" vote would lead to continued international sanctions, civil unrest, and worsening chaos. De Klerk also committed to a new constitution featuring a bill of rights, separation of powers, an independent judiciary, and a bicameral parliament, asserting that a second referendum would only be necessary if the final terms "substantially" differed from these promises. The campaign was unprecedented in South African history, featuring large political rallies, widespread newspaper advertisements, television commercials, and prominent "Yes! Ja! SA" posters. A particularly impactful poster depicted an AWB member with a gun, urging voters to "Stop this man! Vote YES."

The "No" Opposition

The "No" campaign was led by the Conservative Party and the Herstigte Nasionale Party, with Andries Treurnicht as a key figure. Their message warned against "black majority rule" and "ANC communist rule," advocating for white self-determination and the establishment of an independent homeland, or Volkstaat, for the white minority. However, the "No" campaign faced significant disadvantages, lacking comparable funding and media access, relying primarily on posters to convey its message. This disparity in resources and public platform made it challenging for them to counter the well-resourced "Yes" campaign.

Referendum Areas

Electoral Divisions

For the purpose of the referendum, South Africa was meticulously divided into fifteen distinct areas. Each area comprised a specific grouping of electoral divisions from the House of Assembly, ensuring a structured approach to collecting votes across the white electorate.

The following table details the provinces, referendum areas, and the number of electoral divisions within each:

Province Area Electoral Divisions
Cape Province Beaufort West 4
Cape Town 27
East London 7
George 4
Kimberley 6
Port Elizabeth 8
Natal Durban 14
Pietermaritzburg 6
Orange Free State Bloemfontein 7
Kroonstad 7
Transvaal Germiston 13
Johannesburg 21
Pietersburg 5
Pretoria 23
Roodepoort 14

The Results

The Referendum Question

Voters were asked to respond to the following question:

"Do you support continuation of the reform process which the State President began on 2 February 1990 and which is aimed at a new Constitution through negotiation?"

The outcome was a decisive victory for the "Yes" side, indicating strong support among the white electorate for the continuation of reforms.

Overall and Regional Breakdown

The national results demonstrated a clear mandate for change, with a significant majority voting in favor of continuing the reform process. Turnout was remarkably high, reflecting the gravity of the decision for the white community.

Overall Results

Choice Votes %
Yes 1,924,186 68.73%
No 875,619 31.27%
Valid votes 2,799,805 99.82%
Invalid or blank votes 5,142 0.18%
Total votes 2,804,947 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 3,296,800 85.08%

Results by Region

Province Area For Against Total valid votes
Votes % Votes %
Cape Province Beaufort West 18,941 61.62 11,798 38.38 30,739
Cape Town 355,527 84.88 63,325 15.12 418,852
East London 66,675 78.28 18,498 21.72 85,173
George 40,075 65.39 21,211 34.61 61,286
Kimberley 33,504 54.48 27,993 45.52 61,497
Port Elizabeth 87,216 74.46 29,909 25.54 117,125
Natal Durban 204,371 85.03 35,975 14.97 240,346
Pietermaritzburg 66,500 75.98 21,023 24.02 87,523
Orange Free State Bloemfontein 58,066 58.60 41,017 41.40 99,083
Kroonstad 54,531 51.54 51,279 48.46 105,810
Transvaal Germiston 164,025 65.38 86,844 34.62 250,869
Johannesburg 324,686 78.30 89,957 21.70 414,643
Pietersburg 37,612 43.02 49,820 56.98 87,432
Pretoria 287,720 57.37 213,825 42.63 501,545
Roodepoort 124,737 52.44 113,145 47.56 237,882

Notably, only Pietersburg in the Northern Transvaal, a rural right-wing stronghold, voted "No" with 57%. Even in traditionally conservative areas like Kroonstad, the "Yes" side secured a victory with 52% of the vote.

The Aftermath

A New Chapter

The day after the referendum, President de Klerk declared, "Today we have closed the book on apartheid," coinciding with his 56th birthday. Nelson Mandela expressed his profound satisfaction, stating he was "very happy indeed." The Cape Times newspaper prominently announced the outcome with the headline "IT'S YES." This decisive vote provided de Klerk and his government with a clear mandate to proceed with negotiations for a new, non-racial constitution.

Disputed Claims and Legitimacy

Despite the clear outcome, right-wing groups criticized the referendum, alleging electoral fraud. They expressed disbelief at their losses in areas where they had historically been strongest, including the Afrikaner heartland and major cities. Conservative Party leader Andries Treurnicht attributed the "Yes" victory to media propaganda, foreign intervention, threats from business leaders against employees, and electoral irregularities. However, no credible evidence of electoral fraud was ever presented. The high voter turnout, exceeding 96% in some areas, underscored the legitimacy of the process.

Towards Universal Suffrage

The African National Congress, while initially disapproving of the white-only nature of the referendum, ultimately advocated for a "Yes" vote. This strategic decision was driven by the understanding that a "No" outcome would not only jeopardize the ongoing negotiations but also exacerbate political instability and chaos across the country. The referendum's results closely mirrored the regional voting patterns of the 1989 House of Assembly election, indicating a consistent shift in white political sentiment. This pivotal moment directly paved the way for South Africa's first non-racial elections on April 27, 1994, which saw a landslide victory for the African National Congress and the historic inauguration of Nelson Mandela as the nation's first black President.

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References

References

  1.  Algoa, Humansdorp, Newton Park, Port Elizabeth Central, Port Elizabeth North, Sundays River, Uitenhage and Walmer
  2.  Amanzimtoti, Berea, Durban Central, Durban North, Durban Point, Greytown, Pinetown, Port Natal, South Coast, Umbilo, Umfolozi, Umhlanga, Umhlatuzana and Umlazi
  3.  Bloemfontein East, Bloemfontein North, Bloemfontein West, Fauresmith, Ladybrand, Smithfield and Winburg
  4.  Benoni, Boksburg, Brakpan, Brentwood, Edenvale, Geduld, Germiston, Germiston District, Kempton Park, Modderfontein, Nigel, Primrose and Springs
  5.  Carletonville, Florida, Helderkruin, Klerksdorp, Krugersdorp, Lichtenburg, Losberg, Maraisburg, Potchefstroom, Randfontein, Roodepoort, Schweizer-Reneke, Stilfontein and Ventersdorp
  6.  Toward Democracy Library of Congress Country Studies
A full list of references for this article are available at the 1992 South African apartheid referendum Wikipedia page

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