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This resource is hosted by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, but was compiled and authored by Padraig O’Malley. It is the product of almost two decades of research and includes analyses, chronologies, historical documents, and interviews from the apartheid and post-apartheid eras.

1956. Separate Representation of Voters Amendment Act

Together with the SOUTH AFRICA AMENDMENT ACT of 1956, this act marks the final step towards the revalidation of the SEP ARA TE REPRESENT A TION OF VOTERS ACT of 1951. While the former had removed the Coloureds from the common electoral rolls, this act gave the Coloureds ''as 'compensation' a separate roll which elected four members to the House of Assembly and one to the Senate" (Dyzenhaus 1991: 42).

It further "provided for the establishment of a 27-member Union Council for Coloured Affairs to advise the government, 'at its request', on matters relating to educational, economic, political and social interests of the Coloured community. Some 15 of the Council's members were appointed by the government while 12 were elected" (Riley 1991: 50).

A notable difference between the original act from 1951 and the 1956 enactment is that while the former had allowed Coloureds to be elected to the Cape Provincial Council, the latter "called for Whites to represent Coloureds on the council" (Riley 1991: 50).

It was amended by the CO LOURED PERSONS REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL ACT of 1964 with its amendments from 1968 and 1975, as well as the SEPARATE REPRESENTATION OF VOTERS ACT of 1968.

This resource is hosted by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, but was compiled and authored by Padraig O’Malley. Return to theThis resource is hosted by the site.