First Cabinet of Jan Smuts

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First Smuts Cabinet
Red Ensign of South Africa (1912-1951).svg
3rd Cabinet of the Union of South Africa
(since the 1909 South Africa Act)
1920–1921
Genl JC Smuts (cropped).jpg
Jan Smuts (c.1934)
Date formed20 March 1920 (1920-03-20)
Date dissolved8 February 1921 (1921-02-08)
(10 months and 19 days)
People and organisations
Monarch King George V
Governor-General
Prime Minister Jan Smuts
Member parties South African Party
Status in legislature Majority
Opposition parties National Party
Opposition leaders Barry Hertzog
History
Election 1920 election
Predecessor Botha II
Successor Smuts II

Gen. Jan Smuts became Prime Minister, after Louis Botha's death in September 1919. In the general election of 1920, with 134 seats elected to the lower house, the South African Party led by Jan Smuts was ahead by three seats against the National Party (44 seats). Both parties then found themselves forced to form alliances with third parties (unionists and labour) to form the new government. The South African Party was quick to form an alliance with the pro-British Unionist Party (25 seats) and Jan Smuts was reappointed prime minister. Shortly after in the same year, the Unionists agreed to join the South African Party and early general elections were held in February 1921.

Contents

Cabinet

PostMinisterTermParty
Prime Minister Genl JC Smuts (cropped).jpg Gen. Jan Smuts 1919 SAP
Minister of Native Affairs
Minister of Agriculture
Smuts Cabinet 1923.jpg
The Hon. F. S. Malan MP
19201921 SAP
Minister of Defence
Smuts Cabinet 1923.jpg
The Hon. Hendrik Mentz MP
1919 SAP
Minister of Education
Smuts Cabinet 1923.jpg
The Hon. F. S. Malan MP
19101921 SAP
Minister of Finance
Smuts Cabinet 1923.jpg
The Hon. Henry Burton MP
1920 SAP
Minister of Public Health
Smuts Cabinet 1923.jpg
The Hon. Thomas Watt MP
19191921 SAP
Minister of Interior Affairs
Smuts Cabinet 1923.jpg
The Hon. Thomas Watt MP
19191921 SAP
Minister of Justice
Smuts Cabinet 1923.jpg
The Hon. Nicolaas de Wet MP
1913 SAP
Minister of Lands and Irrigation
Smuts Cabinet 1923.jpg
The Hon. Hendrik Mentz MP
19161921 SAP
Minister of Mines and Industry
Smuts Cabinet 1923.jpg
The Hon. F. S. Malan MP
1912 SAP
Minister of Posts and Telegraphs James Graaff.png The Hon. Jacobus Graaff MP19201921 SAP
Minister of Public Works James Graaff.png The Hon. Jacobus Graaff MP19201921 SAP
Minister of Railways and Harbours
Smuts Cabinet 1923.jpg
The Hon. Henry Burton MP
19121921 SAP

Sources