A political analysis of the 1983 referendum in the Republic of South Africa

Abstract

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.