1977 South African general election

General elections were held in South Africa on 30 November 1977. The National Party, led by B. J. Vorster won a landslide victory in the House of Assembly. The newly formed Progressive Federal Party, led by Colin Eglin became the official opposition. The New Republic Party, successor to the United Party, won only 10 seats,[1] all but one of them in Natal Province. Once again, the Herstigte Nasionale Party failed to win any seats.

1977 South African general election

← 1974 30 November 1977 1981 →

164 of the 165 seats in the House of Assembly
83 seats needed for a majority
Registered2,193,635
Turnout48.52% (Decrease 3.35pp)
  First party Second party Third party
 
NRP
Leader B. J. Vorster Colin Eglin Radclyffe Cadman
Party National Progressive New Republic
Last election 56.14%, 122 seats 6.37%, 6 seats 32.84%, 41 seats[a]
Seats won 134 17 10
Seat change Increase 12 Increase 11 Decrease 31
Popular vote 685,035 177,705 127,335
Percentage 65.34% 16.95% 12.15%
Swing Increase 9.20pp Increase 10.58pp Decrease 20.69pp

Prime Minister before election

B. J. Vorster
National

Elected Prime Minister

B. J. Vorster
National

In the 1977 elections, the National Party received its best-ever result with support of 65% of the vote and (after a by-election) 135 seats in parliament out of 165. However, Vorster resigned as prime minister for alleged health reasons on 28 September 1978.

Electoral system

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The members of the House of Assembly were elected in single-member constituencies via first-past-the-post voting. The Senate consisted of 51 members: 43 elected by the electoral colleges of the country's four provinces (16 for the Transvaal, 11 for the Cape Province, and 8 each for the Orange Free State and Natal) and 8 appointed by the State President (2 for each province). Only White South Africans were eligible to vote.

Background

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On 11 February 1975 four liberal MPs led by Harry Schwarz broke away from the United Party and created the Reform Party. The party merged with the Progressive Party on 25 July 1975 to form the Progressive Reform Party. In 1977 another group of United Party members left the party to form the Committee for a United Opposition, which then joined the Progressive Reform Party to form the Progressive Federal Party. This proved to realign the opposition in Parliament, as the PFP became the official opposition party.

Results

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House of Assembly

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Due to the death of the National Party candidate in the Springs constituency, one seat was left vacant until a by-election was held, which was won by the NP.[2]

 
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
National Party685,03565.34134+12
Progressive Federal Party177,70516.9517+11
New Republic Party127,33512.1510New
Herstigte Nasionale Party34,1593.2600
South African Party17,9151.713New
Other parties and independents6,2710.6000
Vacant1
Total1,048,420100.00165–6
Valid votes1,048,42098.50
Invalid/blank votes15,9301.50
Total votes1,064,350100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,193,63548.52
Source: Official Yearbook[2]

Notes

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References

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  1. ^ Alexander, Douglas (31 July 1979). "South Africa Opposition Leader falls". The Age. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  2. ^ a b South Africa: Official Yearbook of the Republic of South Africa, 1985, pp. 180–182