Bezuidenhout (House of Assembly of South Africa constituency)

Last updated
Bezuidenhout
Former constituency
for the South African House of Assembly
Joburg-1915-Bezuidenhout.png
Location of Bezuidenhout within Johannesburg (1915)
Province Transvaal
Electorate21,310 (1989)
Former constituency
Created 1915
Abolished 1994
Number of members1
Last MHA  (DP)
Replaced by Gauteng

Bezuidenhout was a constituency in the Transvaal Province of South Africa, which existed from 1915 to 1994. It covered parts of the inner eastern suburbs of Johannesburg, centred on the suburb of Bezuidenhout Valley. Throughout its existence it elected one member to the House of Assembly and one to the Transvaal Provincial Council.

Contents

Franchise notes

When the Union of South Africa was formed in 1910, the electoral qualifications in use in each pre-existing colony were kept in place. In the Transvaal Colony, and its predecessor the South African Republic, the vote was restricted to white men, and as such, elections in the Transvaal Province were held on a whites-only franchise from the beginning. The franchise was also restricted by property and education qualifications until the 1933 general election, following the passage of the Women's Enfranchisement Act, 1930 and the Franchise Laws Amendment Act, 1931. From then on, the franchise was given to all white citizens aged 21 or over. Non-whites remained disenfranchised until the end of apartheid and the introduction of universal suffrage in 1994. [1]

History

Bezuidenhout was created in 1915, largely out of the abolished seat of Jeppes, and was closely fought between the Labour and Unionist (later South African) parties throughout its early history. In its first election, Unionist candidate L. Blackwell narrowly defeated Labour leader Frederic Creswell, and after a short-lived Labour victory in 1920, the seat was retaken by Blackwell for the SAP, which (along with its descendants) would hold it for nearly the entire rest of its existence. Its MP from 1961 until 1981 was Japie Basson, who was noted for his colourful personality and frequent changes in party affiliation. After being expelled from the Progressive Federal Party for supporting P. W. Botha’s constitutional reforms, Basson left the House of Assembly in 1981, but the seat stayed with the PFP. In 1987, along with several other Johannesburg seats, it fell to the Nationals, but the newly-founded Democratic Party regained it in 1989 and held it until the end of apartheid.

Members

ElectionMemberParty
1915 L. Blackwell Unionist
1920 W. J. McIntyre Labour
1921 L. Blackwell SAP
1924
1929
1933 H. A. Tothill
1938 United Party
1943
1948 member unknown
1953
1958
1961 Japie Basson National Union
1962 United Party
1966
1970
1974
1977 PFP
1981 R. Sive
1987 H. J. Bekker National Party
1989 G. C. Engel Democratic Party
1994 Constituency abolished

[2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Detailed results

Elections in the 1910s

General election 1915: Bezuidenhout [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Unionist L. Blackwell 1,165 44.7 New
Labour Frederic Creswell 1,15244.2New
National J. H. L. Schuman28911.1New
Majority130.5N/A
Turnout 2,60678.1N/A
Unionist win (new seat)

Elections in the 1920s

General election 1920: Bezuidenhout [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour W. J. McIntyre 1,031 49.7 +5.5
Unionist L. Blackwell81039.0−5.7
National E. C. O. du Plooy23111.10.0
Majority85110.7+10.2
Turnout 2,07267.6−10.5
Labour gain from Unionist Swing +5.6
General election 1921: Bezuidenhout [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
South African L. Blackwell 1,222 57.8 +18.8
Labour W. J. McIntyre89242.2−7.5
Majority23015.6+4.9
Turnout 2,11466.3−1.3
South African gain from Labour Swing +5.7
General election 1924: Bezuidenhout [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
South African L. Blackwell 1,388 52.4 +18.8
Labour W. J. McIntyre1,26147.6−7.5
Majority1274.8−10.8
Turnout 2,64981.4+15.1
South African hold Swing -5.4
General election 1929: Bezuidenhout [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
South African L. Blackwell 1,580 63.1 +18.8
Labour C. H. Hayward92536.9−7.5
Majority65526.2+21.4
Turnout 2,50579.3−2.1
South African hold Swing +10.7

Elections in the 1930s

General election 193: Bezuidenhout [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
South African H. A. Tothill 2,249 57.5 −5.6
Roos G. Krogh1,07527.5New
Labour A. Hattingh58515.0−21.9
Majority12730.0N/A
Turnout 3,90960.0−19.3
South African hold Swing N/A
General election 1938: Bezuidenhout [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
United H. A. Tothill 3,867 68.2 +10.7
Dominion candidate unknown1,13420.0New
Labour candidate unknown66811.8−3.2
Majority2,73348.2N/A
Turnout 5,669
United hold Swing N/A

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Durban Point (House of Assembly of South Africa constituency)</span>

Durban Point was a constituency in the Natal Province of South Africa, which existed from 1910 to 1994. Named for the Point area of central Durban, it initially covered the eastern part of the CBD, but later expanded to cover much of Durban’s northern waterfront. Throughout its existence it elected one member to the House of Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pretoria East (House of Assembly of South Africa constituency)</span> South African constituency, 1910–1994

Pretoria East was a constituency in the Transvaal Province of South Africa, which existed from 1910 to 1966 and again from 1974 to 1994. It covered the eastern parts of Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa, and changed its makeup several times over the course of its existence. Throughout its existence it elected one member to the House of Assembly and one to the Transvaal Provincial Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albany (House of Assembly of South Africa constituency)</span>

Albany was a constituency in the Cape Province of South Africa, which existed from 1910 to 1994. It was named after the district of Albany, which covered parts of today's Eastern Cape province, and its main population centre was Grahamstown. Throughout this time it elected one member to the House of Assembly and one to the Cape Provincial Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeppes (House of Assembly of South Africa constituency)</span>

Jeppes was a constituency in the Transvaal Province of South Africa, which existed from 1910 to 1994. It covered parts of the inner eastern suburbs of Johannesburg, centred on the suburb of Jeppestown. Throughout its existence it elected one member to the House of Assembly and one to the Transvaal Provincial Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Losberg (House of Assembly of South Africa constituency)</span>

Losberg was a constituency in the Transvaal Province of South Africa, which existed from 1910 to 1994. It covered a rural area adjacent to the western end of the Witwatersrand, and toward the end of its existence, was centred on the town of Fochville. Throughout its existence it elected one member to the House of Assembly and one to the Transvaal Provincial Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smithfield (House of Assembly of South Africa constituency)</span>

Smithfield was a constituency in the Orange Free State Province of South Africa, which existed from 1910 to 1994. Named after the town of Smithfield, the seat covered a large rural area in the south of the province, bordering the Cape Province as well as Lesotho. Throughout its existence it elected one member to the House of Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cape Town Gardens (House of Assembly of South Africa constituency)</span>

Cape Town Gardens was a constituency in the Cape Province of South Africa, which existed from 1910 to 1994. Named after the suburb of Gardens, and by extension the Company's Garden, it covered the southern parts of the City Bowl of Cape Town. Throughout its existence it elected one member to the House of Assembly and one to the Cape Provincial Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Algoa (House of Assembly of South Africa constituency)</span>

Algoa was a constituency in the Cape Province of South Africa, which existed from 1966 to 1994. Named after Algoa Bay, which forms the natural harbour of Port Elizabeth, it covered Port Elizabeth's northwestern suburbs. Despite its name, the constituency was landlocked for most of its existence, with the actual Algoa Bay coastline mostly forming part of the neighbouring seat of Port Elizabeth North. Throughout its existence it elected one member to the House of Assembly and one to the Cape Provincial Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port Elizabeth North (House of Assembly of South Africa constituency)</span>

Port Elizabeth North was a constituency in the Cape Province of South Africa, which existed from 1929 to 1994. As the name indicates, the seat covered the northern suburbs of Port Elizabeth. Throughout its existence it elected one member to the House of Assembly and one to the Cape Provincial Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walmer (House of Assembly of South Africa constituency)</span>

Walmer was a constituency in the Cape Province of South Africa, which existed from 1966 to 1994. It covered the southern suburbs of Port Elizabeth, centred on its namesake suburb of Walmer. Throughout its existence it elected one member to the House of Assembly and one to the Cape Provincial Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port Elizabeth Central (House of Assembly of South Africa constituency)</span>

Port Elizabeth Central was a constituency in the Cape Province of South Africa, which existed from 1910 to 1994. As the name indicates, the seat covered the central area of Port Elizabeth. Throughout its existence it elected one member to the House of Assembly and one to the Cape Provincial Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bellville (House of Assembly of South Africa constituency)</span>

Bellville was a constituency in the Cape Province of South Africa, which existed from 1933 to 1938 and again from 1953 to 1994. It was centred on the railway junction of Bellville, and covered various areas of Cape Town’s eastern suburbs. Throughout its existence it elected one member to the House of Assembly and one to the Cape Provincial Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Claremont (House of Assembly of South Africa constituency)</span>

Claremont was a constituency in the Cape Province of South Africa, which existed from 1933 to 1953 and again from 1981 to 1994. It covered parts of Cape Town’s southern suburbs, centred on its namesake suburb of Claremont. Throughout its existence it elected one member to the House of Assembly and one to the Cape Provincial Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Constantia (House of Assembly of South Africa constituency)</span>

Constantia was a constituency in the Cape Province of South Africa, which existed from 1953 to 1994. Named after the suburb of Constantia, and by extension the Groot Constantia winery, it covered parts of Cape Town’s southern suburbs. Throughout its existence it elected one member to the House of Assembly and one to the Cape Provincial Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">De Kuilen (House of Assembly of South Africa constituency)</span>

De Kuilen was a constituency in the Cape Province of South Africa, which existed from 1981 to 1994. Named after the colonial estate of the same name, the seat covered the outermost eastern suburbs of Cape Town, centred on the town of Kuils River. Throughout its existence it elected one member to the House of Assembly and one to the Cape Provincial Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Durbanville (House of Assembly of South Africa constituency)</span>

Durbanville was a constituency in the Cape Province of South Africa, which existed from 1974 to 1994. Centred on the suburb of the same name, the seat covered the outermost northeastern suburbs of Cape Town as well as a rural area around Klipheuwel. Throughout its existence it elected one member to the House of Assembly and one to the Cape Provincial Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">False Bay (House of Assembly of South Africa constituency)</span>

False Bay was a constituency in the Cape Province of South Africa, which existed from 1953 to 1994. Centred on the town of Strand, it covered an area to the southeast of Cape Town, along the shore of the namesake bay. Throughout its existence it elected one member to the House of Assembly and one to the Cape Provincial Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green Point (House of Assembly of South Africa constituency)</span>

Green Point was a constituency in the Cape Province of South Africa, which existed from 1943 to 1994. It covered parts of the Cape Town seashore, including its namesake suburb as well as parts of the CBD. Throughout its existence it elected one member to the House of Assembly and one to the Cape Provincial Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Groote Schuur (House of Assembly of South Africa constituency)</span>

Groote Schuur was a constituency in the Cape Province of South Africa, which existed from 1974 to 1994. Named for the then-Prime Ministerial residence and former estate of Cecil Rhodes, the seat covered parts of the inner southern suburbs of Cape Town around the University of Cape Town campus. Throughout its existence it elected one member to the House of Assembly and one to the Cape Provincial Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maitland (House of Assembly of South Africa constituency)</span>

Maitland was a constituency in the Cape Province of South Africa, which existed from 1933 to 1943 and again from 1953 to 1994. Named for the suburb of Maitland, the seat covered various areas in the inner eastern suburbs of Cape Town. Throughout its existence it elected one member to the House of Assembly and one to the Cape Provincial Council.

References

  1. ↑ "EISA South Africa: Historical franchise arrangements". Eisa.org.za. Archived from the original on 9 May 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Schoeman, B.M. (1977). Parlementêre verkiesings in Suid-Afrika 1910-1976. Pretoria: Aktuele Publikasies.
  3. ↑ South Africa 1980/81: Official Yearbook of the Republic of South Africa. Johannesburg: Chris van Rensburg Publications.
  4. ↑ South Africa 1983: Official Yearbook of the Republic of South Africa. Johannesburg: Chris van Rensburg Publications.
  5. ↑ Government Gazette of South Africa, No. 10751. 22 May 1987. Pretoria: Government of South Africa.
  6. ↑ Government Gazette of South Africa, No. 12109. 20 September 1989. Pretoria: Government of South Africa.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.