Labour Party (Coloured)
Encyclopedia
The Labour Party was a South Africa
n political party founded in 1969 and led for many years by Revd Allan Hendrickse
. Although avowedly opposed to apartheid, it participated in the Coloured Persons Representative Council. It opposed the guerrilla struggle of Umkhonto we Sizwe
and the call for international sanctions against South Africa. The party later dominated the House of Representatives
in the Tricameral Parliament
from its foundation in 1984 until 1992, winning 76 of the 80 seats in the 1984 elections
and 69 in those of 1989
. When the National Party
of F. W. de Klerk
decided to admit non-White members, however, a substantial number of members of the House of Representatives who had been members of Labour crossed the floor
to join the Nationalists. In 1992, a group of 36 such former Labour members led by Jac Rabie engineered a vote of no confidence in Hendrickse's Labour government. Losing influence at the polls, Hendrickse concluded that the Labour Party had fulfilled its uses, and the party was disbanded in 1994, with Hendrickse and his followers joining the African National Congress
.
The name of the New Labour Party
of Peter Marais
was meant to evoke Hendrickse's Labour Party. It is not to be confused with the earlier South African Labour Party, which had represented White industrial workers.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n political party founded in 1969 and led for many years by Revd Allan Hendrickse
Allan Hendrickse
Helenard Joe Hendrickse was a South African politician, Congregationalist minister, and teacher. He participated in an act of defiance by swimming at a South African beach reserved for whites only. He was born in Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape and died of a heart attack at Port Elizabeth's airport...
. Although avowedly opposed to apartheid, it participated in the Coloured Persons Representative Council. It opposed the guerrilla struggle of Umkhonto we Sizwe
Umkhonto we Sizwe
Umkhonto we Sizwe , translated "Spear of the Nation," was the armed wing of the African National Congress which fought against the South African apartheid government. MK launched its first guerrilla attacks against government installations on 16 December 1961...
and the call for international sanctions against South Africa. The party later dominated the House of Representatives
House of Representatives of South Africa
The House of Representatives of South Africa was an 80 seat body in the Tricameral Parliament of South Africa which existed from 1984-1994. It was reserved for Coloured South Africans...
in the Tricameral Parliament
Tricameral Parliament
The Tricameral Parliament was the name given to the South African parliament and its structure from 1984 to 1994, established by the South African Constitution of 1983...
from its foundation in 1984 until 1992, winning 76 of the 80 seats in the 1984 elections
South African general election, 1984
The 1984 South African general election held in August of that year, it saw a number of Coloured and Indian parties participating in an election for the houses of Parliament created for their respective racial groups, although a majority of people in both of these groups opposed the Tricameral...
and 69 in those of 1989
South African general election, 1989
The 1989 South African general election was South Africa's last national race-based parliamentary election. The election was called early to gauge support for the recently elected head of the National Party, Frederik Willem de Klerk and his program of reform, which was to...
. When the National Party
National Party (South Africa)
The National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
of F. W. de Klerk
Frederik Willem de Klerk
Frederik Willem de Klerk , often known as F. W. de Klerk, is the former seventh and last State President of apartheid-era South Africa, serving from September 1989 to May 1994...
decided to admit non-White members, however, a substantial number of members of the House of Representatives who had been members of Labour crossed the floor
Crossing the floor
In politics, crossing the floor has two meanings referring to a change of allegiance in a Westminster system parliament.The term originates from the British House of Commons, which is configured with the Government and Opposition facing each other on rows of benches...
to join the Nationalists. In 1992, a group of 36 such former Labour members led by Jac Rabie engineered a vote of no confidence in Hendrickse's Labour government. Losing influence at the polls, Hendrickse concluded that the Labour Party had fulfilled its uses, and the party was disbanded in 1994, with Hendrickse and his followers joining the African National Congress
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
.
The name of the New Labour Party
New Labour Party (South Africa)
The New Labour Party was a minor South African political party founded by Peter Marais via floor crossing legislation after he left the New National Party in some disrepute. The name was chosen to evoke the former Labour Party led by the late Reverend Allan Hendrickse as an anti-apartheid Coloured...
of Peter Marais
Peter Marais
Peter Marais is a South African politician who participated in the Tricameral Parliament and became the Mayor of Cape Town after the 2000 election and later Premier of the Western Cape province....
was meant to evoke Hendrickse's Labour Party. It is not to be confused with the earlier South African Labour Party, which had represented White industrial workers.