The aim of this historical-analytical study is to
examine the 1983 referendum in South Africa. On 2
November 1983 the white electorate was asked to vote
on the Republic of South Africa Constitution Act,
1983, (Act 110 of 1983). The theoretical framework
of referendums in general is considered, as is the
correlation between referendums, participation and
democracy.
Previous referendums in South Africa are discussed
with a view to examining the form and structure that
the South African referendum appears in. The 1983
referendum regulations and legislation are examined,
and from this it is clear that the 1983 referendum
represented a consultative or plebiscitary
referendum rather than a constitutionally-required
referendum. However, even though there is no statute
which obliges a South African goverment -of -the-day
to heed the outcome of the referendum, Prime Minister Botha had announced that he would honour
the outcome of the 1983 referendum.
From the result of the 1983 referendum, it was clear
that many voters believed the constitutional
proposals to be another step in the reform process.
It was during the parliamentary debate on the 1983
constitution bill that the Prime Minister announced
that the constitutional proposals would be submitted
to the white electorate in the form of a referendum.
Political actors
"yes", "no", or
campaigned for
abstention of
various
spoilt
options;
ballot.
Although the outcome of the referendum was a
significant two-to-one majority for the "yes''
parties, the referendum also helped define the more
conservative geographic areas. The outcome thus
secured a mandate for the National Party to embark
on further reforms. The one aspect that
characterised both the referendum campaign and the
outcome was the question of black political rights.
On the right-wing, sell t imen ts we1~e that the next
proposals from the National Party would lead to the
en£ ranch i semen t of blacks, while moderates and the
left wing felt that the status 9uo was not
sufficient and some attempt had to be made at
address black political aspirations.
Die doewit van hierdie histories-analitiese studie
is om die 1983 referendum in Suid-Afrika te
ondersoek. Die blanke kiesers was gevra om te stem
vir die aanvaarding of verwerping van die Republiek
van Suid-Afrika Grondwet, 1983 (Wet 110 van 1983).
Die teoretiese agtergrond van
algemeen is oorweeg, asook
referendums
die verband
referendum, deelname en demokrasie.
in die
tussen
Vorige referendums in Suid-Afrika is bespreek om die
vorm en struktuur van die referendum, soos di t in
Suid-Afrika voorkom, te verduidelik. Die 1983
regulasies en wetgewing is ondersoek, en die
afleiding kan gemaak word dat die 1983 referendum
was eerder 'n konsulterende of plebisiet referendum
as 'n grondwetlik-voorgeskrewe referendum. Alhoewel
.daar geen wetgewing bestaan wat 'n Suid-Afrikaanse
regering-van-die-dag verplig om die uitslag van 'n
referendum te respekteer nie, het Eerste Minister
Bqtha aangekondig dat hy die uitslag sal eerbiedig. Die uitslag van die 1983 referendum bewys dat baie
kiesers geglo het dat die nuwe grondwetlike bedeling
'n stap verder was in die hervormingsproses. Die
Eerste Minister het gedurende die parlementere debat
van die 1983 grondwet aangekondig dat die nuwe
voorstelle voor die blanke kiesers gele sal word, in
die vorm van 'n referendum. Politieke akteurs het
vir
weg
verskillende opsies bep1eit; "ja", "nee", of om
te bly. Alhoewel die uitslag 'n belangrike
twee-derde meerderheid vir partye beteken
het, het die referendum ook
geografiese gebiede omskryf.
die "ja"
die meer konserwatiewe
Die uitslag het 'n mandaat vir die Nasionale Party
gegee om
begin. Die
met
een
verdere hervormingsinisiatiewe te
aspek van die referendum veldtog wat
die uitslag getipeer het, was die kwessie van swart
politieke regte. Aan die konserwatiewe kant, was die
mening gehuldig dat die volgende stap die toekenning
van swart politieke regte in die blanke R.S.A. sou
wees, terwyl die gematigdes en linkses gevoel het
dat die status quo nie voldoende was nie, en
derhalwe moes sekere pogings aangewend word om swart
politieke aspirasie aan te spreek.
