Governor-General of South Africa
The Governor-General of the Union of South Africa was the representative of the British (1910-1931) and later South African Crown (1931-1961) in the Union of South Africa between 31 May 1910 and 31 May 1961. The Union of South Africa was a Commonwealth Realm in which Queen Elizabeth II was given the title Queen of South Africa, although she never visited the country in that capacity.
Some of the first holders of the post were members of the British Royal Family including Prince Arthur of Connaught, between 1920 and 1923, and the Earl of Athlone, who served between 1923 and 1930, before becoming the Governor General of Canada. As in other Dominions, this would change, with only local South African citizens holding the office.
Republicanism
The Afrikaner-dominated National Party, which came to power in 1948, was avowedly republican, and regarded South Africa's links with the other Commonwealth realms as a relic of British imperialism. Under the National Party, the office of Governor-General was held by retired government ministers, who pointedly did not wear the traditional Windsor uniform composed of a blue military jacket and plumed hat. In 1957, God Save the Queen ceased to have equal status with Die Stem van Suid-Afrika as a national anthem, and the Union Flag similarly ceased to have equal status with the South African flag.
However, it was not until 1960 that the Prime Minister, Hendrik Verwoerd, advised the Governor-General to hold a referendum on the issue. After several protests regarding the lowering of the voting age to 18, and the inclusion of white voters in South West Africa, on October 5 1960, South Africa's whites were asked: "Do you support a republic for the Union?" The result was 52 per cent in favour of the change.
Charles Robberts Swart, the last Governor-General, became Officer Administering the Government in April, 1961, under a transitional arrangement, before he was sworn in as the first State President of the Republic of South Africa on May 31 of that year.
Governors-General of the Union of South Africa
- The Viscount Gladstone (1910–1914)
- The Viscount Buxton (1914–1920)
- HRH Prince Arthur of Connaught (1920–1924)
- The Earl of Athlone (1924–1931)
- The Earl of Clarendon (1931–1937)
- Sir Patrick Duncan (1937–1943)
- Nicolaas Jacobus de Wet (1943–1946)
- Gideon Brand van Zyl (1946–1951)
- Ernest George Jansen (1951–1959)
- Lucas Cornelius Steyn (1959–1960)
- Charles Robberts Swart (1960–1961)
See also
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