Governor-General of the Union of South Africa

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The Governor-General of the Union of South Africa was the representative of the British Crown in South Africa between May 31,1910 and May 31,1961. 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.

Flag of the Governor-General, Union of South Africa, 1931

Some of the first holders of the post were members of the British Royal Family including Prince Arthur of Connaught, between 1920 and 1923, and the Earl of Athlone, who served between 1923 and 1930, before becoming the Governor General of Canada. As in other Dominions, this would change, with only local (white) South African citizens holding the office.

[edit] Republicanism

The Afrikaner-dominated National Party, which came to power in 1948, was avowedly republican, and regarded South Africa's links with the Crown as a relic of British imperialism. Under the National Party, the office of Governor-General was held by retired government ministers, who pointedly did not wear the traditional 'colonial' 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 British Union Jack similarly ceased to have equal status with the South African flag.

However, it was not until 1960 that the Prime Minister, Hendrik Verwoerd, held 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 5th 1960, South Africa's whites were asked: 'Do you support a republic for the Union?'. The result was 52 per cent in favour of the change.

Charles Robberts Swart, the last Governor-General, became Officer Administering the Government in April 1961 under a transitional arrangement, before he was sworn in as the first State President of the Republic of South Africa on May 31 of that year.

[edit] Governors-General of the Union of South Africa

The Viscount Gladstone (1910–1914)
The Viscount Buxton (1914–1920)
HRH Prince Arthur of Connaught (1920–1924)
The Earl of Athlone (1924–1931)
The Earl of Clarendon (1931–1937)
Sir Patrick Duncan (1937–1943)
Nicolaas Jacobus de Wet (1943–1946)
Gideon Brand van Zyl (1946–1951)
Ernest George Jansen (1951–1959)
Lucas Cornelius Steyn (1959)
Charles Robberts Swart (1959–1961)

[edit] See also

	Governors-General of the Union of South Africa		Image:Flag of South Africa 1928-1994.svg
The Viscount Gladstone \| The Viscount Buxton \| HRH Prince Arthur of Connaught \| The Earl of Athlone \| The Earl of Clarendon \| Sir Patrick Duncan \| Nicolaas Jacobus de Wet \| Gideon Brand van Zyl \| Ernest George Jansen \| Lucas Cornelius Steyn \| Charles Robberts Swart