On 31 May we celebrate the creation of the
Republic of South Africa. Please read my commentary first before you read the
article itself. Thank you!
Danie
Commentary: Since 31 March 1961 South Africa was developed as an
example for Africa and was envied by many African states as well as West. A well-established
infrastructure and economy was handed over to the ANC-elected government on 29
April 1994 and initially it look as if the ANC was eager to continue with the
good work prior to April 1994 but not for long – gradually they started to
demolish everything that was good and it took on such measures under Zuma that
their only strategy as to blame whites, even starting with Jan van Riebeeck for
their own misery, failures and incompetency. In Afrikaans it is much better to
say: “die ANC het hierdie land deur hul gate getrek”. The problem is that for
the next odd hundred years they will still shift the blame for the junk they
created on the whites!
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| South African Flag 1928 to 1994 |
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| South African Flag since 1994 |
On 31 May 1961, the
Republic of South Africa was established; it ushered in a period in which the
existing political trends grew in tempo, scope and force. The application of
the policy of separate development was accelerated to such an extent that the
Transkei was granted self-government as early as December, 1963, something
which a few years earlier not even Verwoerd had foreseen. Except for a
temporary set-back in the general election of 1970, the National Party grew
steadily stronger.
In January of 1960, Dr. Verwoerd announced that a referendum
would be called to determine the Republican issue, the objective being a
Republican form of government within the Commonwealth of Nations.
Two weeks later, British Prime Minister Harold McMillan
visited South Africa. In an address to both Houses of Parliament MacMillan made
his infamous Winds of Change speech.
The South African parliament accepted the referendum and on
the fifth of October, 1960 voters were asked if they favoured a Republic for
the Union. The majority of the electorate voted in favour.
The Republic of South Africa came into existence on the 31st
of May 1961.
Dr. Verwoerd’s popularity and accomplishments in South
Africa as well as abroad were overwhelming; Dr. Verwoerd’s staunchest critics could not
avoid recognizing the Prime Minister’s success.
The Rand Daily Mail
published the following on the 30th of July, 1966:
“At the age of 65 Dr.
Verwoerd has reached the peak of a remarkable career. No other South African
Prime Minister has ever been in such a powerful position in the country. He is
at the head of a massive majority after a resounding victory at the polls.
The nation is
suffering from a surfeit of prosperity and he can command almost unlimited
funds for all that he needs at present in the way of military defence. He can
claim that South Africa is a shining example of peace in a troubled continent,
if only, because overwhelming domestic power can always command peace.
Finally, as if that
were not enough, he can face the session (of parliament) with the knowledge
that, short of an unthinkable show of force by people whom South Africans are
rapidly being taught to regard as their enemies, he can snap his fingers at the
United Nations. Thanks to the recent judgement of The Hague Court (on the South
West Africa issue) he can afford to condescend to the world body, graciously
remaining a member as long as it suits him.
Indeed, the Prime Minister
has never had it so good.”
Dr. Verwoerd’s government secured a stable and prosperous
environment to the benefit of all South Africans including foreign and migrant
populations.
Living standards for Blacks rose 5.4% per annum versus 3.9%
for Whites.
South Africa’s economic growth by 1965 was second highest in
the world at 7.9%.
Inflation stood at a mere 2% and the prime interest rate at
only 3% per annum.
Domestic savings were so great that the Republic of South
Africa needed no foreign loans for normal economic expansion.
A large portion of the South African budget was invested in
development for Blacks within South Africa and in the Nation States. Blacks in
South Africa had a far superior standard of living in comparison to the rest of
Africa.
Superior health care gave black South Africans a vastly
inferior infant mortality boosting population growth. Citizens of the Bantu
States in South Africa owned more wealth than all other African countries
combined. Thousands of Blacks from neighboring countries would constantly
attempt to enter the country illegally in order to share in that security and
prosperity.
Such achievements were bound to attract the envy of powerful
foreign and malevolent domestic foes.
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