Governor-General of the Union of South Africa
Encyclopedia
The Governor-General of the Union of South Africa was the representative of the British
(1910–1931) and later South African Crown
(1931–1961) in the Union of South Africa
between 31 May 1910 and 31 May 1961. The Union of South Africa was a Commonwealth Realm
in which Queen Elizabeth II
was given the title Queen of South Africa, although she never visited the country in that capacity.
Some of the first holders of the post were members of the British Royal Family
including Prince Arthur of Connaught
, between 1920 and 1924, and the Earl of Athlone
, who served between 1924 and 1931, before becoming the Governor General of Canada
. As in other Dominion
s, this would change, with only local South African citizens holding the office.
The office was established by the South Africa Act 1909
.
, which came to power in 1948, was avowedly republican, and regarded South Africa's links
with the other Commonwealth realm
s as a relic of British imperialism. Under the National Party, the office of Governor-General
was held by retired government ministers, who chose not to wear the traditional Windsor uniform
composed of a blue military jacket and plumed hat. In 1957, God Save the Queen
ceased to have equal status with Die Stem van Suid-Afrika
as a national anthem
, and the Union Flag
similarly ceased to have equal status with the South African flag.
However, it was not until 1960 that the Prime Minister, Hendrik Verwoerd, advised the Governor-General to hold a referendum on the issue. After several protests regarding the lowering of the voting age to 18, and the inclusion of white voters in South West Africa
, on October 5, 1960, South Africa's whites were asked: "Are you in favour of a Republic for the Union?" The result was 52 per cent in favour of the change.
Charles Robberts Swart
, the last Governor-General, left office on April 30, 1961 and Lucas Cornelius Steyn
become Officer Administering the Government under a transitional arrangement, until May 31, 1961, when Republic of South Africa was declared and Swart become the first State President of South Africa
.
Monarchy of the United Kingdom
The monarchy of the United Kingdom is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. The present monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, has reigned since 6 February 1952. She and her immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial and representational duties...
(1910–1931) and later South African Crown
King of South Africa
The King or Queen of South Africa was titular head of state of the Union of South Africa during the state's existence as a Dominion of the British Empire and later a Commonwealth Realm from 31 May 1910 to 31 May 1961, when the country became the Republic of South Africa...
(1931–1961) in the Union of South Africa
Union of South Africa
The Union of South Africa is the historic predecessor to the present-day Republic of South Africa. It came into being on 31 May 1910 with the unification of the previously separate colonies of the Cape, Natal, Transvaal and the Orange Free State...
between 31 May 1910 and 31 May 1961. The Union of South Africa was a Commonwealth Realm
Commonwealth Realm
A Commonwealth realm is a sovereign state within the Commonwealth of Nations that has Elizabeth II as its monarch and head of state. The sixteen current realms have a combined land area of 18.8 million km² , and a population of 134 million, of which all, except about two million, live in the six...
in which Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
was given the title Queen of South Africa, although she never visited the country in that capacity.
Some of the first holders of the post were members of the British Royal Family
British Royal Family
The British Royal Family is the group of close relatives of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The term is also commonly applied to the same group of people as the relations of the monarch in her or his role as sovereign of any of the other Commonwealth realms, thus sometimes at variance with...
including Prince Arthur of Connaught
Prince Arthur of Connaught
Prince Arthur of Connaught and Strathearn was a member of the British Royal Family, a grandson of Queen Victoria. Prince Arthur held the title of a British prince with the style His Royal Highness...
, between 1920 and 1924, and the Earl of Athlone
Earl of Athlone
The title of Earl of Athlone has been created three times. It was created first in the Peerage of Ireland in 1692 by King William III for the Dutch General Baron Godard van Reede, Lord of Ginkel, to honour him for his successful battles in Ireland. The title also had the subsidiary title of Baron...
, who served between 1924 and 1931, before becoming the Governor General of Canada
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
. As in other Dominion
Dominion
A dominion, often Dominion, refers to one of a group of autonomous polities that were nominally under British sovereignty, constituting the British Empire and British Commonwealth, beginning in the latter part of the 19th century. They have included Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland,...
s, this would change, with only local South African citizens holding the office.
The office was established by the South Africa Act 1909
South Africa Act 1909
The South Africa Act 1909 was an Act of the British Parliament which created the Union of South Africa from the British Colonies of the Cape of Good Hope, Natal, Orange River Colony, and the Transvaal Colony. The Act also made provisions for admitting Rhodesia as a fifth province of the Union in...
.
Republicanism
The Afrikaner-dominated National PartyNational Party (South Africa)
The National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
, which came to power in 1948, was avowedly republican, and regarded South Africa's links
Personal union
A personal union is the combination by which two or more different states have the same monarch while their boundaries, their laws and their interests remain distinct. It should not be confused with a federation which is internationally considered a single state...
with the other Commonwealth realm
Commonwealth Realm
A Commonwealth realm is a sovereign state within the Commonwealth of Nations that has Elizabeth II as its monarch and head of state. The sixteen current realms have a combined land area of 18.8 million km² , and a population of 134 million, of which all, except about two million, live in the six...
s as a relic of British imperialism. Under the National Party, the office of Governor-General
Governor-General
A Governor-General, is a vice-regal person of a monarch in an independent realm or a major colonial circonscription. Depending on the political arrangement of the territory, a Governor General can be a governor of high rank, or a principal governor ranking above "ordinary" governors.- Current uses...
was held by retired government ministers, who chose not to wear the traditional Windsor uniform
Windsor uniform
The Windsor uniform is a type of dress worn by male members of the House of Windsor. The uniform was introduced by George III in 1779.The first Court Uniform was the Windsor Coat or Uniform, dating from c.1778. This is now an evening tail coat of dark blue cloth, lapelled, with scarlet collar and...
composed of a blue military jacket and plumed hat. In 1957, God Save the Queen
God Save the Queen
"God Save the Queen" is an anthem used in a number of Commonwealth realms and British Crown Dependencies. The words of the song, like its title, are adapted to the gender of the current monarch, with "King" replacing "Queen", "he" replacing "she", and so forth, when a king reigns...
ceased to have equal status with Die Stem van Suid-Afrika
Die Stem van Suid-Afrika
Die Stem van Suid-Afrika was the national anthem of South Africa from 1957 to 1994, and shared national anthem status with Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika until 1997, when a new hybrid anthem was adopted. It was also the anthem for South-West Africa under South African mandate until 1990.- Background :In...
as a national anthem
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
, and the Union Flag
Union Flag
The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the flag of the United Kingdom. It retains an official or semi-official status in some Commonwealth Realms; for example, it is known as the Royal Union Flag in Canada. It is also used as an official flag in some of the smaller British overseas...
similarly ceased to have equal status with the South African flag.
However, it was not until 1960 that the Prime Minister, Hendrik Verwoerd, advised the Governor-General to hold a referendum on the issue. After several protests regarding the lowering of the voting age to 18, and the inclusion of white voters in South West Africa
South West Africa
South-West Africa was the name that was used for the modern day Republic of Namibia during the earlier eras when the territory was controlled by the German Empire and later by South Africa....
, on October 5, 1960, South Africa's whites were asked: "Are you in favour of a Republic for the Union?" The result was 52 per cent in favour of the change.
Charles Robberts Swart
Charles Robberts Swart
Charles Robberts Swart served as the last Governor-General of Union of South Africa from 1960 to 1961 and the first State President of the Republic of South Africa from 1961 to 1967.-Early life:...
, the last Governor-General, left office on April 30, 1961 and Lucas Cornelius Steyn
Lucas Cornelius Steyn
Lucas Cornelius Steyn was Chief Justice of South Africa and, as such, acted as Governor-General on two occasions.Born in 1903, he graduated with law degrees from the University of Stellenbosch in 1926, was admitted as an advocate in 1928, and obtained a doctorate in law in 1929.He was...
become Officer Administering the Government under a transitional arrangement, until May 31, 1961, when Republic of South Africa was declared and Swart become the first State President of South Africa
State President of South Africa
State President, or Staatspresident in Afrikaans, was the title of South Africa's head of state from 1961 to 1994. The office was established when the country became a republic in 1961, and Queen Elizabeth II ceased to be head of state...
.
List of Governors-General of the Union of South Africa (1910-1961)
| # | Name (Birth–Death) |
Picture | Took office | Left office | Monarch | Prime Minister |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Viscount Gladstone Herbert Gladstone, 1st Viscount Gladstone Herbert John Gladstone, 1st Viscount Gladstone GCB, GCMG, GBE, PC, JP was a British Liberal statesman. The youngest son of William Ewart Gladstone, he was Home Secretary from 1905 to 1910 and Governor-General of the Union of South Africa from 1910 to 1914.-Background and education:Gladstone was... (1854–1930) |
31 May 1910 | 8 September 1914 | George V George V of the United Kingdom George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936.... |
Botha Louis Botha Louis Botha was an Afrikaner and first Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa—the forerunner of the modern South African state... |
|
| 2 | The Viscount Buxton (1853–1934) |
 |
8 September 1914 | 17 November 1920 | ||
| 3 | HRH Royal Highness Royal Highness is a style ; plural Royal Highnesses... Prince Arthur of Connaught Prince Arthur of Connaught Prince Arthur of Connaught and Strathearn was a member of the British Royal Family, a grandson of Queen Victoria. Prince Arthur held the title of a British prince with the style His Royal Highness... (1883–1938) |
 |
17 November 1920 | 21 January 1924 | Smuts Jan Smuts Jan Christiaan Smuts, OM, CH, ED, KC, FRS, PC was a prominent South African and British Commonwealth statesman, military leader and philosopher. In addition to holding various cabinet posts, he served as Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa from 1919 until 1924 and from 1939 until 1948... |
|
| 4 | The Earl of Athlone Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone Major-General Alexander Augustus Frederick William Alfred George Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone , was a close relative of the shared British and Canadian royal family, as well as a British military commander and major-general who served as Governor-General of the Union of South Africa, the... (1874–1957) |
 |
21 January 1924 | 26 January 1931 | ||
| 5 | The Earl of Clarendon George Villiers, 6th Earl of Clarendon George Herbert Hyde Villiers, 6th Earl of Clarendon KG, PC , known as Lord Hyde from 1877 to 1914, was a British Conservative politician... (1877–1955) |
26 January 1931 | 5 April 1937 | Hertzog | ||
| 6 | Sir Patrick Duncan (1870–1943) |
5 April 1937 | 17 July 1943 | George VI George VI of the United Kingdom George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death... |
||
| — | Nicolaas Jacobus de Wet Nicolaas Jacobus de Wet Nicolaas Jacobus de Wet was Chief Justice of South Africa and acting Governor-General from 1943 to 1945.Born in 1873, he obtained a law degree from the University of Cambridge in 1895 and was admitted as an advocate in 1896... (1873–1960) (Officer Administering the Government) |
17 July 1943 | 1 January 1946 | Smuts | ||
| 7 | Gideon Brand van Zyl Gideon Brand van Zyl Gideon Brand van Zyl was Governor-General of the Union of South Africa from 1945 to 1950. He was the first South African-born holder of the office.... (1873–1956) |
1 January 1946 | 1 January 1951 | |||
| 8 | Ernest George Jansen Ernest George Jansen Ernest George Jansen was the second-last Governor-General of the Union of South Africa, holding office from 1950 to 1959.Born in 1881, he graduated with a law degree from the University of the Cape of Good Hope in 1905, and was admitted as an advocate in 1913.An ardent champion of Afrikaner... (1881–1959) |
1 January 1951 | 25 November 1959 | Malan Daniel François Malan Daniel François Malan , more commonly known as D.F. Malan, was the Prime Minister of South Africa from 1948 to 1954. He is seen as a champion of Afrikaner nationalism. His National Party government came to power on the program of apartheid and began its comprehensive implementation.- Biography... |
||
| — | Lucas Cornelius Steyn Lucas Cornelius Steyn Lucas Cornelius Steyn was Chief Justice of South Africa and, as such, acted as Governor-General on two occasions.Born in 1903, he graduated with law degrees from the University of Stellenbosch in 1926, was admitted as an advocate in 1928, and obtained a doctorate in law in 1929.He was... (1903–1976) (Officer Administering the Government) |
26 November 1959 | 11 December 1959 | Elizabeth II Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,... |
Verwoerd Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd , commonly identified as H.F. Verwoerd, was Prime Minister of South Africa from 1958 until his assassination in 1966... |
|
| 9 | Charles Robberts Swart Charles Robberts Swart Charles Robberts Swart served as the last Governor-General of Union of South Africa from 1960 to 1961 and the first State President of the Republic of South Africa from 1961 to 1967.-Early life:... (1894–1982) |
 |
11 December 1959 | 30 April 1961 | ||
| — | Lucas Cornelius Steyn Lucas Cornelius Steyn Lucas Cornelius Steyn was Chief Justice of South Africa and, as such, acted as Governor-General on two occasions.Born in 1903, he graduated with law degrees from the University of Stellenbosch in 1926, was admitted as an advocate in 1928, and obtained a doctorate in law in 1929.He was... (1903–1976) (Officer Administering the Government) |
30 April 1961 | 31 May 1961 | |||
See also
- State President of South AfricaState President of South AfricaState President, or Staatspresident in Afrikaans, was the title of South Africa's head of state from 1961 to 1994. The office was established when the country became a republic in 1961, and Queen Elizabeth II ceased to be head of state...
- President of South AfricaPresident of South AfricaThe President of the Republic of South Africa is the head of state and head of government under South Africa's Constitution. From 1961 to 1994, the head of state was called the State President....
- Prime Minister of South Africa