Liberalism in South Africa

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Liberalism in South Africa has encompassed various traditions and parties.

Contents

Various South Africans have contributed prominently to liberalism in the country. Cape liberalism played a key role in the politics of the Cape Colony, which enjoyed the non-racial Cape Qualified Franchise. [1] From the foundation of the Union of South Africa, liberal ideas played a key role in ensuring certain political freedoms – including of speech and political participation – for the white population, whose own multiculturalism (particularly Afrikaner-British parity) it had guaranteed. Another key facet of liberalism in South Africa was advocacy for the reform or total abolition of apartheid. In the democratic era, liberalism lives on through the country's constitution, which features a far-reaching bill of rights, some separation of powers and checks and balances. It continues to be championed by some political parties, while the country's economic policy has features of liberalism despite being a mixed economy.

The moderate South African Party and its successor, the United Party, formed government several times between the formation of the Union and the election of the National Party in 1948. In 1959, members of the United Party formed the Progressive Party, a precursor to the present-day Democratic Alliance. Separately, in 1953, the anti-Apartheid and multi-racial Liberal Party of South Africa was formed, before disbanding in 1968.

Following the 2024 general elections, the liberal Democratic Alliance (DA) entered into a coalition with the African National Congress (ANC) and various other parties, breaking the ANC's dominance of national government since the end of apartheid.

History

Timeline

Progressive Party to Unionist Party

South African Party

  • 1911: The South African Party was formed of various pre-Union parties. Led by the moderate Louis Botha, it formed the first government of a united South Africa. The party's support base included English-speaking white South Africans who developed a pattern of supporting the most moderate Afrikaner politicians to avoid domination. The party's own 'liberal' wing was led by Jan Hofmeyr. [2]
  • 1934: SAP merged into the United Party.

United Party

Liberal Party of South Africa

  • 1953: The Liberal Party of South Africa was formed by Alan Paton.
  • 1968: The SALP decided to disband rather than obey legislation outlawing multiracial political parties. The decision was also influenced by the fact that the leadership of the SALP had been decimated by banning orders and other restrictive measures, and by the fact that many stalwarts had been forced into exile.

Progressive Party to Democratic Alliance

Mahlabatini Declaration

On 4 January 1974, Transvaal United Party leader Harry Schwarz met with Mangosuthu Buthelezi and signed a five-point plan for racial peace in South Africa, which came to be known as the Mahlabatini Declaration of Faith. Its purpose was to provide a blueprint for the government of South Africa by consent and racial peace in a multi-racial society, stressing opportunity for all, consultation, the federal concept, and a bill of rights. It also affirmed that political change must take place though non-violent means, at a time when neither the National Party nor the African National Congress were looking to peaceful solutions or dialogue. The declaration enshrined the principles of peaceful transition of power and equality for all, the first of such agreements by acknowledged black and white political leaders in South Africa and was heralded by many as a breakthrough in race relations in South Africa. Liberal figures and others such as Alan Paton praised the declaration. The declaration drew much media interest both inside and outside South Africa. Schwarz, leader of the liberal 'Young Turks' in the UP, would be expelled with other liberals from the party the following year.

Prominent individuals

Politics

Academia

Media and literature

Religion

Liberal organisations

References

  1. ↑ Van Staden, Martin (25 October 2019). "Cape Liberal Tradition (1820s-1959)". Liberal South Africa. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 Mills, Wallace. "South African Political Parties". smu-facweb.smu.ca. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  3. ↑ "United Party, South Africa". Oxford Reference. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  4. 1 2 "South Africa - The 1948 Election". countrystudies.us. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  5. ↑ Evans, Ivan (1997). Bureaucracy and Race: Native Administration in South Africa. University of California Press. pp. 58–59. ISBN   9780520206519.
  6. ↑ The Independent (UK)
  7. ↑ Mail & Guardian Archived 1 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine

See also

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