TWE was Verwoerd successful in his policy aims in South Africa?
Intro:
- Verwoerd became PM 1958 (died 1966)
- 3 aims: establishing Republic (achieved), enforcing ‘separate development’ (achieved to an extent),
suppressing opposition to apartheid (not achieved considerably)
P1: Establishing the republic (achieved aim)
- Significant aim: wanted to rally support, free from remnants of British constitutional authority
- Achieved aim
o October 1960, white SAs voted for republic (narrow majority of 52%)
o SA became republic 31st May 1961
Change in currency from GBP to Rand
removal of British symbols (‘state’ instead of ‘royal’)
- However…
o Can argue only narrowly achieved Republic aim (narrow majority of 52%) – regardless, still
achieved
o Verwoerd wanted to be a republic within the Commonwealth (e.g. India) – failed in this aim
March 1961, Commonwealth Conference, SA left Commonwealth
Significant: SA more isolated, international action vs apartheid intensified
However: overseas investment remained, SA not entirely isolated, limited impact
Therefore, arguably this failure = insignificant & Verwoerd still achieved his
aim of SA becoming a Republic (though differently to how initially wanted)
P2: enforcing ‘separate development’ (achieved to an extent)
- 1959 Promotion of Bantu Self-Government Act (created 10 homelands)
o Developed 1951 Bantu Authorities Act
o December 1963, 1st self-governing homeland established, Transkei, under Kaiser Matanzima
Enabled future changes, e.g. homelands accepting independence: Bophuthatswana
(1977), Venda (1979), Ciskei (1981)
- 1959 Extension of University Education Act
o Built on 1953 Bantu Education Act, separate education & expanded – significant
- Achieved: can argue was gradual progression (built upon previous legislation), however still significant
However…
- More action needed by successors to cement, arguably Verwoerd’s focus on external issues (Republic)
detracted from ‘separate development’
o Vorster put in money on larger scale
o However, ‘separate development’ = evolutionary, Verwoerd amplified it, natural progression
– therefore achieved to an extent, but not completely
Intro:
- Verwoerd became PM 1958 (died 1966)
- 3 aims: establishing Republic (achieved), enforcing ‘separate development’ (achieved to an extent),
suppressing opposition to apartheid (not achieved considerably)
P1: Establishing the republic (achieved aim)
- Significant aim: wanted to rally support, free from remnants of British constitutional authority
- Achieved aim
o October 1960, white SAs voted for republic (narrow majority of 52%)
o SA became republic 31st May 1961
Change in currency from GBP to Rand
removal of British symbols (‘state’ instead of ‘royal’)
- However…
o Can argue only narrowly achieved Republic aim (narrow majority of 52%) – regardless, still
achieved
o Verwoerd wanted to be a republic within the Commonwealth (e.g. India) – failed in this aim
March 1961, Commonwealth Conference, SA left Commonwealth
Significant: SA more isolated, international action vs apartheid intensified
However: overseas investment remained, SA not entirely isolated, limited impact
Therefore, arguably this failure = insignificant & Verwoerd still achieved his
aim of SA becoming a Republic (though differently to how initially wanted)
P2: enforcing ‘separate development’ (achieved to an extent)
- 1959 Promotion of Bantu Self-Government Act (created 10 homelands)
o Developed 1951 Bantu Authorities Act
o December 1963, 1st self-governing homeland established, Transkei, under Kaiser Matanzima
Enabled future changes, e.g. homelands accepting independence: Bophuthatswana
(1977), Venda (1979), Ciskei (1981)
- 1959 Extension of University Education Act
o Built on 1953 Bantu Education Act, separate education & expanded – significant
- Achieved: can argue was gradual progression (built upon previous legislation), however still significant
However…
- More action needed by successors to cement, arguably Verwoerd’s focus on external issues (Republic)
detracted from ‘separate development’
o Vorster put in money on larger scale
o However, ‘separate development’ = evolutionary, Verwoerd amplified it, natural progression
– therefore achieved to an extent, but not completely
