Representation of Natives Act, 1936

The Representation of Natives Act, Act no. 12/1936 ( German: native Election Law ) was a 1936 statute enacted by the Union of South Africa Act, through its action in the country a consistent political division of the population was generated. This took place a change of the existing for 80 years the right to vote for blacks (with higher education) on the territory of the former Cape Colony, which led to a considerable reduction.

Purpose and Objectives

The Representation of Natives Act gained at a time the force of law in the economic situation of the South African population came to a head due to global recessionary trends and country-specific land use conflicts with constraints on the acquisition of land. This affected in particular way the majority of the farming structures dominated parts of the country. The law follows the principle of indirect rule in the traditional pattern of British colonial rule in South Africa.

Under this law, the voting citizens of color could choose only three white mandate holders in the Parliament ( Union House of Assembly ) and two representatives in the Cape Provincial Council ( Kapprovinzrat ). The political representation of the black population also took place over four senators who have been placed in the Electoral Assembly from among the Chiefs and the Regional Councils.

As part of this suffrage amendment you created a Native Representative Council (NRC ), German natives about Rep Council, with 21 members. The Native Representative Council was overseen by the Minister of Native Affairs. This council was composed of five ( according to other sources: six) non-voting ( white ) Chief Native Commissioners, four nominated blacks and 12 other selected from the "black" colleges representatives. His role consisted of a consultative role for the Department of Native Affairs ( Native Affairs Department ). Its meetings were held in the presence of representatives of this Ministry and its decisions had no binding effect.

The policy framework

The government of Prime Minister James Barry Hertzog Munnick initiated a gradual reduction measures to address the voting rights for the non-European population. With the Women enfranchisement Act ( Women's Suffrage Act) of 1930 strengthened you the option for white women in South Africa and raised with the Franchise Laws Amendment Act ( Suffrage Amendment Act ) in 1931 still existing restrictions for the white population group. Finally it came in 1936 with the Representation of Natives Act to a decoupling of the non-European population from the principle of equal voting rights after the British Westminster -based system. Further restrictions of civil rights created by the Native Trust and Land Act. The government Hertzog saw in the combined effect of both laws, the " lasting solution to the native problem."