South African general election, 1984
Encyclopedia
The 1984 South African general election held in August of that year, it saw a number of Coloured
and Indian
parties participating in an election for the houses of Parliament
created for their respective racial groups, although a majority of people in both of these groups opposed the Tricameral Parliament
, as it was called.
In addition to the whites-only House of Assembly
, there was a 85-member House of Representatives
for Coloureds and a 45-member House of Delegates
for Asians.
The election for the House of Representatives was won by the Labour Party
, headed by the Reverend Allan Hendrickse
, with 76 out of the 80 directly elected seats.
The election for the House of Delegates was contested by five parties, all favouring the protection of minority rights and rejecting a unitary state on the basis of one person-one vote. In the election for the 40 directly elected seats, the National People's Party won 18 seats and Solidarity 17; these two parties formed a governing alliance in January 1986.
The United Nations Security Council
passed Resolution 554
(1984) condemning the election, declaring it null and void
as it was designed to entrench minority rule.
Coloured
In the South African, Namibian, Zambian, Botswana and Zimbabwean context, the term Coloured refers to an heterogenous ethnic group who possess ancestry from Europe, various Khoisan and Bantu tribes of Southern Africa, West Africa, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaya, India, Mozambique,...
and Indian
Asians in South Africa
The majority of the Asian South African population is Indian in origin, most of them descended from indentured workers transported to work in the 19th century on the sugar plantations of the eastern coastal area, then known as Natal. They are largely English speaking, although many also retain the...
parties participating in an election for the houses of Parliament
Parliament of South Africa
The Parliament of South Africa is South Africa's legislature and under the country's current Constitution is composed of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces....
created for their respective racial groups, although a majority of people in both of these groups opposed the Tricameral Parliament
Tricameral Parliament
The Tricameral Parliament was the name given to the South African parliament and its structure from 1984 to 1994, established by the South African Constitution of 1983...
, as it was called.
In addition to the whites-only House of Assembly
House of Assembly of South Africa
The House of Assembly was the lower house of the Parliament of South Africa from 1910 to 1984, and latterly the white representative house of the Tricameral Parliament from 1984 to 1994, when it was replaced by the current National Assembly...
, there was a 85-member House of Representatives
House of Representatives
House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national states. In some countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often called a "senate". In other countries, the House of...
for Coloureds and a 45-member House of Delegates
House of Delegates
The House of Delegates is the name given to the lower house of the legislature in three U.S. states – Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia.House of Delegates may also refer to:...
for Asians.
The election for the House of Representatives was won by the Labour Party
Labour Party (Coloured)
The Labour Party was a South African political party founded in 1969 and led for many years by Revd Allan Hendrickse. Although avowedly opposed to apartheid, it participated in the Coloured Persons Representative Council. It opposed the guerrilla struggle of Umkhonto we Sizwe and the call for...
, headed by the Reverend Allan Hendrickse
Allan Hendrickse
Helenard Joe Hendrickse was a South African politician, Congregationalist minister, and teacher. He participated in an act of defiance by swimming at a South African beach reserved for whites only. He was born in Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape and died of a heart attack at Port Elizabeth's airport...
, with 76 out of the 80 directly elected seats.
The election for the House of Delegates was contested by five parties, all favouring the protection of minority rights and rejecting a unitary state on the basis of one person-one vote. In the election for the 40 directly elected seats, the National People's Party won 18 seats and Solidarity 17; these two parties formed a governing alliance in January 1986.
The United Nations Security Council
United Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
passed Resolution 554
United Nations Security Council Resolution 554
United Nations Security Council Resolution 554, adopted on August 17, 1984, after recalling 473 , the Council condemned the 1984 general election in South Africa and the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act ....
(1984) condemning the election, declaring it null and void
Void (law)
In law, void means of no legal effect. An action, document or transaction which is void is of no legal effect whatsoever: an absolute nullity - the law treats it as if it had never existed or happened....
as it was designed to entrench minority rule.