1933 South African general election

The 1933 South African general election was held for the 150 seats in the House of Assembly of the Union of South Africa, on 17 May 1933.[1] The National Party won half the seats in the House, but the coalition with the South African Party continued.

1933 South African general election

17 May 1933 (1933-05-17)
All 150 seats in the House of Assembly
Turnout	33.77% (drop due to increase in franchise)
First party Second party   Leader J. B. M. Hertzog Jan Smuts Party National Party South African Last election 78 seats, 41.16% 61 seats, 46.51% Seats won 75 61 Seat change 3 0 Popular vote 101,159 71,486 Percentage 31.61% 22.34% Swing 9.55% 24.17%   Third party Fourth party   RP Leader Tielman Roos Walter Madeley Party Roos Party Labour Last election New party 8 seats, 9.86% Seats won 2 2 Seat change 2 6 Popular vote 27,441 20,276 Percentage 8.58% 6.34% Swing 8.58% 24.17%
House of Assembly after the election
Prime Minister before election J. B. M. Hertzog National Party Elected Prime Minister J. B. M. Hertzog National Party

Changes to the franchise

Since the 1929 election several changes had been made to the franchise laws. Adult white women were enfranchised in 1930. In 1931 all European males over the age of 21 were enfranchised (eliminating property and wage qualifications for that section of the population).[2]

One effect of these changes, which were not extended to the non-white population of the Union, was to dilute the influence of the non-white electors in Cape Province and Natal.

Delimitation of electoral divisions

The South Africa Act 1909 had provided for a delimitation commission to define the boundaries for each electoral division. The representation by province, under the sixth delimitation report of 1932, is set out in the table below. The figures in brackets are the number of electoral divisions in the previous (1928) delimitation. If there is no figure in brackets then the number was unchanged.[3]

Provinces	Cape	Natal	Orange Free State	Transvaal	Total
Divisions	61 (58)	16 (17)	16 (18)	57 (55)	150 (148)

Results

The vote totals in the table below may not give a complete picture of the balance of political opinion, because of unopposed elections (where no votes were cast) and because contested seats may not have been fought by a candidate from all major parties.

As the two largest parties were in coalition together, the opposition to the government was weaker and more fragmented than in any other election in South African history.

The total registered electorate was 957,636. It had more than doubled, since the last election, due to the franchise reforms (see above section). The votes cast were 323,417 (including 3,406 spoilt votes).[4]

Party		Seats[5]	Seats %	Votes[6]	Votes %	Leader
	National Party	75	50.00	101,159	31.61	General J. B. M. Hertzog
	South African	61	40.67	71,486	22.34	General Jan Smuts
	Independent	10	6.67	87,321	27.29	-
	Roos Party	2	1.33	27,441	8.58	Tielman Roos
	Labour	2	1.33	20,276	6.34	Walter Madeley
	Natal Home Rule	-	-	12,328	3.85	-
	Total	150

An alternative breakdown of members, distinguishing between supporters and opponents of the coalition, was (pro Coalition) NP 75, SAP 61, Creswell Labour 2, Roos 2; (opposition) National Council Labour 2, Natal Home Ruler 2, Independents 6.[7] Another interpretation, is NP 75, SAP 61, Labour 4, Roos Party 2, Home Rule group 2 and Independents 6.[8]

References

• Keesing's Contemporary Archives
• The Rise of the South African Reich, by Brian Bunting, (first published by Penguin Africa Library in 1964 and revised in 1969) accessed on an ANC website 3 August 2010
• Smuts: A Reappraisal, by Bernard Friedman (George, Allen & Unwin 1975) ISBN 0-04-920045-3
• South Africa 1982 Official Yearbook of the Republic of South Africa, published by Chris van Rensburg Publications
• The South African Constitution, by H.J. May (3rd edition 1955, Juta & Co)

1. Keesing's Contemporary Archives, 1931-1934, page 747
2. ‘'The South African Constitution'’, by H.J. May (3rd edition 1955, Juta & Co) pp. 92–93
3. South Africa 1982, page 129
4. South Africa 1982, page 176
5. South Africa 1982, page 174 (seats by party)
6. South Africa 1982, page 176 (votes by party)
7. The South African Constitution, page 135
8. The Rise of the South African Reich, chapter 2: The First Nationalist Government