The National Party’s implementation of Apartheid according to Dr. Verwoerd envisioned a “policy of good neighbourliness”. Maintaining a peaceful coexistence with independent neighbouring states and aspiring future nation states.
Dr. Verwoerd realised that the political situation in South Africa, a result of recent British Imperial rule over the nation, was untenable.
Under Prime Minister Verwoerd the following legislation was passed enabling the course to independence for the various Black nations in South Africa.
- The Promotion of Bantu Self-Government Act (1959)
- Bantu Investment Corporation Act (1959)
- Extension of University Act (1959)
- Coloured Persons Communal Reserves Act (1961)
- Preservation of Coloured Areas Act (1961)
The Republican ideal was a long term goal for the National Party in South Africa.
In January of 1960, Dr. Verwoerd announced that a referendum would be called to determine the Republican issue, the objective being a Republican form of government within the Commonwealth of Nations.
Two weeks later, British Prime Minister Harold McMillan visited South Africa. In an address to both Houses of Parliament MacMillan made his infamous Winds of Change speech.
The South African parliament accepted the referendum and on the fifth of October, 1960 voters were asked if they favoured a Republic for the Union. The majority of the electorate voted in favour.
The Republic of South Africa came into existence on the 31st of May 1961.
The Republic of South Africa came into existence on the 31st of May 1961.
Hendrik Verwoerd’s popularity and accomplishments in South Africa as well as abroad were overwhelming, Dr. Verwoerd’s staunchest critics could not avoid recognizing the Prime Minister’s success. The Rand Daily Mail published the following on the 30th of July, 1966...
“At the age of 65 Dr. Verwoerd has reached the peak of a remarkable career. No other South African Prime Minister has ever been in such a powerful position in the country. He is at the head of a massive majority after a resounding victory at the polls.
The nation is suffering from a surfeit of prosperity and he can command almost unlimited funds for all that he needs at present in the way of military defence. He can claim that South Africa is a shining example of peace in a troubled continent, if only, because overwhelming domestic power can always command peace.
Finally, as if that were not enough, he can face the session (of parliament) with the knowledge that, short of an unthinkable show of force by people whom South Africans are rapidly being taught to regard as their enemies, he can snap his fingers at the United Nations. Thanks to the recent judgement of the Hague Court (on the South West Africa issue) he can afford to condescend to the world body, graciously remaining a member as long as it suits him.
Indeed, the Prime Minister has never had it so good.”
Dr. Verwoerd’s government secured a stable and prosperous environment to the benefit of all South Africans including foreign and migrant populations.
Living standards for Blacks rose 5.4% per annum versus 3.9% for Whites.
South Africa’s economic growth by 1965 was second highest in the world at 7.9%.
Inflation stood at a mere 2% and the prime interest rate at only 3% per annum.
Domestic savings were so great that the Republic of South Africa needed no foreign loans for normal economic expansion.
A large portion of the South African budget was invested in development for Blacks within South Africa and in the Nation States. Blacks in South Africa had a far superior standard of living in comparison to the rest of Africa.
Superior health care gave black South Africans a vastly inferior infant mortality boosting population growth. Citizens of the Bantu States in South Africa owned more wealth than all other African countries combined. Thousands of Blacks from neighboring countries would constantly attempt to enter the country illegally in order to share in that security and prosperity.
Such achievements were bound to attract the envy of powerful foreign and malevolent domestic foes.
