1987 South African general election

General elections were held in South Africa on 6 May 1987. The State of Emergency cast a cloud over the elections, which were again won by the National Party (NP) under the leadership of P. W. Botha, although for the first time it faced serious opposition from the right of the South African political spectrum. The election resulted in the creation of the Second Botha Cabinet, which held power until 1989.

1987 South African general election

6 May 1987

166 of the 178 seats in the House of Assembly
84 seats needed for a majority
Registered3,031,414
Turnout67.84% ( 7.94pp)
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader P. W. Botha Andries Treurnicht Colin Eglin
Party National Conservative Progressive
Last election 57.66%, 131 seats Did not exist 19.65%, 26 seats
Seats won 123 22 19
Seat change 8 New party 7
Popular vote 1,075,505 547,559 288,574
Percentage 52.70% 26.83% 14.14%
Swing 4.96pp New party 5.51pp

State President before election

P. W. Botha
National

Elected State President

P. W. Botha
National

The right-wing opposition came in the form of the Conservative Party (CP), which opposed even the limited powersharing with Indian and Coloured South Africans that had been implemented by the NP as part of a package of constitutional reforms in 1984. The CP was led by a former chairman of the Broederbond and NP cabinet minister, Andries Treurnicht, infamously known as Minister of Education under the Soweto riots. Following the election, in which the CP extended its 17 splinter MPs to win 22 seats, it replaced the Progressive Federal Party (PFP) as the official opposition in the House of Assembly.[1]

The election year also saw important political developments to the left of the NP. During 1987 Denis Worrall resigned as the South African ambassador in London to return to politics. Together with Wynand Malan (who had resigned from the NP) and Esther Lategan he formed the Independent Movement to fight the general election. Only Malan won a seat and the partnership consequently disintegrated. Denis Worrall and others subsequently went on to form the Independent Party (IP), while Esther Lategan and others formed the National Democratic Movement.

Partially as a result of the split in the votes to the liberal anti-NP parties, the PFP lost seven of its parliamentary seats as well as its role of official opposition. The New Republic Party (NRP), formerly the United Party continued its disintegration and lost seven of its eight seats.

Results

Of the 12 appointed and indirectly elected seats, ten were taken by the National Party and one each by the Conservative Party and Progressive Federal Party.[2]

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
National Party1,075,50552.70123–8
Conservative Party547,55926.8322New
Progressive Federal Party288,57414.1419–7
Herstigte Nasionale Party61,4563.0100
New Republic Party 40,4941.981–7
Independents27,1491.331+1
Presidential appointees40
Indirectly-elected members80
Total2,040,737100.00178+1
Valid votes2,040,73799.23
Invalid/blank votes15,8900.77
Total votes2,056,627100.00
Registered voters/turnout3,031,41467.84
Source: Nohlen et al.[3]

The results of the election by constituency were as follows:[4]

Cape Province

Constituency 1981
result
1987 winning party Turnout Votes
Party Votes Share Majority NP PFP CP HNP NRP Independents Total
AlbanyPFPNP 5,642 50.8% 844 69.9% 5,642 4,798 589 11,105
AlgoaNPNP 7,382 62.6% 4,682 65.8% 7,382 1,449 2,700 229 11,793
AliwalNPNP 4,379 58.6% 2,467 69.9% 4,379 678 1,912 308 7,299
Beaufort WestNPNP 4,568 64.1% 2,486 75.5% 4,568 2,082 418 7,128
BellvilleNPNP 7,087 75.0% 5,636 63.4% 7,087 870 1,452 9,455
CaledonNPNP 7,100 80.0% 4,636 71.4% 7,100 2,464 9,731
Cape Town GardensPFPPFP 4,511 46.8% 486 58.8% 4,511 4,997 9,643
CeresNPNP 5,333 67.4% 2,860 75.4% 5,333 2,473 7,909
ClaremontPFPPFP 100% Unopposed
ConstantiaPFPPFP 8,008 63.2% 3,452 65.1% 4,556 8,008 12,661
CradockNPNP 4,532 55.8% 2,396 76.0% 4,532 1,184 2,136 251 8,124
De AarNPNP 4,584 57.6% 1,283 78.3% 4,584 3,301 7,964
De KuilenNPNP 10,244 73.4% 8,218 69.4% 10,244 1,326 2,026 284 13,963
DurbanvilleNPNP 10,983 61.1% 6,084 77.0% 10,983 4,899 1,636 280 17,986
East London CityNPNP 7,035 67.7% 3,782 60.3% 7,035 3,253 10,388
East London NorthNPNP 7,569 64.3% 3,873 66.5% 7,569 3,696 467 11,773
False BayNPNP 8,644 77.9% 7,404 65.7% 8,644 1,240 1,161 11,093
GeorgeNPNP 8,312 64.4% 6,278 69.7% 8,312 2,034 1,918 571 12,901
GordoniaNPNP 4,606 60.2% 2,181 72.2% 4,606 2,425 593 7,649
Graaff-ReinetNPNP 4,268 54.5% 1,928 78.7% 4,268 2,340 181 1,035 7,835
Green PointPFPPFP 3,608 49.9% 39 52.9% 3,569 3,608 7,232
Groote SchuurPFPPFP 100% Unopposed
HelderbergNPNP 8,439 46.7% 39 82.2% 8,439 1,189 8,400 18,076
HumansdorpNPNP 6,740 55.2% 3,798 73.0% 6,740 2,169 2,942 329 12,207
Kimberley NorthNPNP 5,539 56.1% 2,650 69.2% 5,539 989 2,889 433 9,881
Kimberley SouthNPNP 6,757 62.3% 4,052 70.9% 6,757 825 2,705 522 10,845
King William's TownNRPNP 7,127 61.5% 2,731 64.7% 7,172 4,441 11,671
KurumanNPNP 4,154 52.0% 352 77.7% 4,154 3,802 7,986
MaitlandNPNP 7,508 64.0% 4,280 60.7% 7,508 3,228 774 144 11,737
MalmesburyNPNP 8,901 71.1% 7,415 66.5% 8,901 1,486 1,435 638 12,514
Mossel BayNPNP 7,108 65.4% 3,435 76.5% 7,108 3,673 10,873
NamaqualandNPNP 4,489 62.6% 1,849 71.5% 4,489 2,640 7,176
Newton ParkNPNP 7,840 58.6% 3,386 75.6% 7,840 4,454 983 13,375
OudtshoornNPNP 5,358 56.5% 1,296 73.5% 5,358 4,062 9,476
PaarlNPNP 7,753 71.0% 5,606 67.6% 7,753 989 2,147 10,919
ParowNPNP 8,122 76.0% 6,448 65.3% 8,122 571 1,674 274 10,689
PiketbergNPNP 8,210 73.3% 5,314 76.3% 8,210 2,896 11,200
PinelandsPFPPFP 6,958 59.5% 2,422 72.9% 4,536 6,958 11,690
Port Elizabeth CentralPFPPFP 4,714 52.6% 596 61.4% 4,118 4,714 8,961
Port Elizabeth NorthNPNP 6,507 71.3% 4,503 55.2% 6,507 2,004 443 9,128
PrieskaNPNP 3,949 61.0% 2,069 72.4% 3,949 1,880 565 6,476
QueenstownNPNP 4,639 51.1% 2,162 73.0% 4,639 1,570 2,477 9,078
Sea PointPFPPFP 8,010 71.5% 4,934 65.7% 3,076 8,010 11,207
SimonstownNPNP 7,288 50.6% 268 70.2% 7,288 7,020 14,412
StellenboschNPNP 5,296 56.5% 1,781 69.7% 5,296 494 3,515 9,376
Sundays RiverNPNP 6,088 61.1% 2,868 75.6% 6,088 305 3,220 311 9,957
SwellendamNPNP 5,812 60.9% 3,188 78.0% 5,812 2,624 1,042 9,541
TygervalleiNPNP 8,350 81.4% 7,178 57.1% 8,350 667 1,172 10,264
UitenhageNPNP 5,953 57.1% 1,878 66.4% 5,953 4,075 197 10,428
VascoNPNP 7,160 73.2% 5,243 60.6% 7,160 1,917 676 9,780
VryburgNPNP 4,500 56.4% 1,374 78.8% 4,500 3,126 308 7,980
WalmerPFPNP 6,151 51.7% 539 69.2% 6,151 5,612 11,895
Walvis BayNP 1,782 72.6% 1,140 52.7% 1,782 642 2,454
WellingtonNPNP 8,877 72.6% 6,798 64.1% 8,877 833 2,079 355 12,230
WorcesterNPNP 7,553 75.9% 5,308 67.5% 7,553 2,245 9,953
WynbergPFPNP 5,264 50.0% 97 62.3% 5,264 5,167 10,537
Total for all constituencies Turnout
NP PFP CP HNP NRP Independents Total
Votes
64.5%333,49990,96680,36613,77212,27213,417 544,292
61.3% 16.7%14.8%2.5%2.3%2.5% 100.0%
Seats
48 80000 56
85.7% 14.3%0%0%0%0% 100.0%

Natal

Constituency 1981
result
1987 winning party Turnout Votes
Party Votes Share Majority NP PFP CP NRP HNP Independents Total
AmanzimtotiNRPNP 6,392 51.0% 1,884 66.6% 6,392 1,597 4,508 12,538
BereaPFPPFP 7,071 64.4% 3,160 66.1% 3,911 7,071 10,982
Durban CentralPFPPFP 5,592 56.6% 1,360 58.7% 4,232 5,592 9,888
Durban NorthNRPPFP 7,718 57.0% 2,110 71.6% 5,608 7,718 13,548
Durban PointNRPNP 5,017 56.7% 1,230 51.4% 5,017 3,787 8,849
GreytownPFPPFP 7,106 48.1% 676 70.4% 6,430 7,106 1,175 14,773
Klip RiverNPNP 5,956 54.0% 3,480 71.9% 5,956 1,930 2,467 634 11,045
Mooi RiverNRPNRP 6,103 51.7% 1,807 71.7% 4,296 1,357 6,103 11,800
NewcastleNPNP 5,713 47.0% 1,064 66.0% 5,713 822 4,649 904 12,152
Pietermaritzburg NorthPFPNP 6,652 52.5% 1,121 68.3% 6,652 5,531 414 12,666
Pietermaritzburg SouthPFPNP 7,436 54.0% 1,509 69.2% 7,436 5,927 352 13,778
PinetownPFPPFP 8,293 58.0% 2,394 69.8% 5,899 8,293 14,297
Port NatalNPNP 7,092 57.1% 3,703 64.5% 7,092 3,389 1,875 12,415
South CoastNRPNP 5,778 49.6% 1,419 72.2% 5,772 1,469 4,359 11,640
UmbiloNRPNP 5,050 52.0% 480 57.4% 5,050 4,570 9,716
UmfoloziNPNP 4,381 45.7% 1,743 62.5% 4,381 2,638 2,531 9,584
UmhlangaNRPNP 6,195 51.9% 557 67.4% 6,195 5,638 11,933
UmhlatuzanaNPNP 8,234 64.8% 3,519 66.1% 8,234 4,715 718 13,712
UmlaziNPNP 8,035 65.0% 4,882 63.0% 8,035 3,153 966 167 12,363
VryheidNPNP 6,992 61.9% 4,135 69.8% 6,992 2,857 1,257 11,300
Total for all constituencies Turnout
NP PFP CP NRP HNP Independents Total
Votes
66.2%119,29366,88521,05023,3274,4462,531 237,532
50.2% 28.2%8.9%9.8%1.9%1.1% 100.0%
Seats
14 50100 20
70% 25%0%5%0%0% 100.0%

Orange Free State

Constituency 1981
result
1987 winning party Turnout Votes
Party Votes Share Majority NP CP HNP PFP Total
BethlehemNPNP 6,923 56.1% 2,038 77.8% 6,923 4,885 433 12,337
Bloemfontein EastNPNP 8,518 60.8% 3,118 65.8% 8,518 5,400 14,008
Bloemfontein NorthNPNP 7,152 62.0% 4,353 69.9% 7,152 2,799 1,532 11,535
Bloemfontein WestNPNP 7,371 65.8% 3,658 75.5% 7,371 3,713 11,198
FauresmithNPNP 4,226 51.3% 1,048 63.4% 4,226 3,178 792 8,237
HeilbronNPNP 5,713 50.4% 680 71.4% 5,713 5,033 567 11,346
KroonstadNPNP 6,960 61.7% 2,724 72.2% 6,960 4,236 11,283
LadybrandNPNP 5,870 53.3% 842 80.4% 5,870 5,028 11,012
ParysNPNP 6,412 47.9% 183 76.7% 6,412 6,229 696 13,397
SasolburgNPNP 7,334 48.9% 2,673 72.9% 7,334 2,933 4,661 14,995
SmithfieldNPNP 5,162 55.0% 1,684 70.4% 5,162 2,136 710 9,388
VirginiaNPNP 6,708 55.0% 3,047 62.7% 6,708 3,661 1,237 551 12,191
WelkomNPNP 7,891 52.7% 2,309 64.7% 7,891 5,582 938 529 14,968
WinburgNPNP 7,257 57.9% 2,524 74.6% 7,257 4,733 471 12,540
Total for all constituencies Turnout Total
NP CP HNP PFP
Votes
71.1%93,49759,54610,5052,612 166,160
56.3% 35.8%6.3%1.6% 100.0%
Seats
14 000 14
100.0% 0%0%0% 100.0%

Transvaal

Constituency Region 1981
result
1987 winning party Turnout Votes
Party Votes Share Majority NP CP PFP HNP NRP Independents Total
AlbertonPWVNPNP 7,695 55.0% 1,946 66.0% 7,695 5,749 387 14,001
BarbertonEastNPCP 6,050 46.7% 284 72.4% 5,766 6,050 1,090 12,965
BenoniPWVNPNP 6,498 49.3% 2,798 65.2% 6,498 2,915 3,700 13,173
BethalEastNPCP 10,331 52.7% 1,612 69.1% 8,719 10,331 474 19,606
BezuidenhoutPWVPFPNP 7,354 58.9% 2,442 58.8% 7,534 4,912 12,492
BoksburgPWVNPNP 7,198 50.5% 2,790 66.1% 7,198 4,408 2,055 556 14,264
BrakpanPWVNPCP 6,827 49.6% 288 66.7% 6,539 6,827 251 13,755
BrentwoodPWVNPNP 7,955 50.4% 2,011 68.1% 7,955 5,944 1,836 15,780
BritsWestNPCP 7,311 54.4% 1,667 75.8% 5,644 7,311 430 13,438
BryanstonPWVPFPPFP 7,398 51.1% 2,533 68.7% 4,865 7,398 2,128 14,469
CarletonvillePWVNPCP 5,970 47.7% 98 64.4% 5,872 5,970 571 12,514
DelmasEastNPCP 7,216 44.7% 275 72.8% 6,941 7,216 1,058 793 16,140
EdenvalePWVPFPNP 6,902 50.0% 168 65.1% 6,902 6,734 13,808
ErmeloEastNPCP 6,641 49.4% 671 74.3% 5,970 6,641 766 13,446
FloridaPWVNPNP 7,509 53.1% 4,251 78.9% 7,509 3,158 2,591 833 14,148
GeduldPWVNPNP 8,045 54.8% 1,723 65.7% 8,045 6,322 14,686
GermistonPWVNPNP 6,507 53.2% 2,440 59.8% 6,407 3,967 1,404 386 12,238
Germiston DistrictPWVNPNP 7,604 56.7% 2,394 58.9% 7,604 5,210 350 13,420
GezinaPWVNPNP 6,584 52.3% 1,328 64.9% 6,584 5,256 566 12,582
HelderkruinPWVNPNP 9,815 49.9% 4,617 71.2% 9,815 5,198 4,572 19,676
HerculesPWVNPNP 6,114 39.2% 861 70.0% 6,114 5,253 4,123 15,587
HillbrowPWVPFPPFP 3,455 42.8% 89 43.3% 3,455 1,196 3,366 8,074
HoughtonPWVPFPPFP 8,635 63.1% 3,851 67.4% 4,784 8,635 13,689
InnesdalPWVNPNP 7,274 49.9% 1,024 75.5% 7,274 6,250 871 14,564
JeppePWVNPNP 6,206 67.3% 4,231 42.2% 6,206 1,975 1,010 9,216
Johannesburg NorthPWVPFPPFP 8,609 66.4% 4,488 68.2% 4,121 8,609 12,960
Johannesburg WestPWVNPNP 5,951 57.3% 3,566 51.6% 5,951 2,385 1,911 10,383
Kempton ParkPWVNPNP 7,809 56.4% 2,379 65.8% 7,809 5,430 362 13,851
KlerksdorpWestNPNP 6,980 43.6% 1,852 69.1% 8,832 6,980 16,020
KoedoespoortPWVNPNP 8,284 55.0% 3,167 72.1% 8,284 5,117 1,250 15,060
KrugersdorpPWVNPNP 7,238 49.7% 55 65.4% 7,238 7,183 14,577
LanglaagtePWVNPNP 6,524 56.4% 2,633 58.5% 6,524 3,891 849 267 11,574
LichtenburgWestNPCP 7,595 57.5% 2,590 79.5% 5,005 7,595 565 13,206
LosbergPWVNPCP 8,404 54.7% 1,886 67.8% 6,518 8,404 15,374
LydenburgEastNPNP 5,711 47.2% 143 73.8% 5,854 5,711 439 12,110
MaraisburgPWVNPNP 5,302 49.7% 837 52.6% 5,302 4,465 617 282 10,666
MeyertonPWVNPNP 7,975 46.9% 360 66.6% 7,975 7,615 1,333 16,998
MiddelburgEastNPCP 8,123 48.6% 529 73.3% 8,123 7,531 1,010 16,719
ModderfonteinPWVNPNP 10,258 57.0% 5,318 67.8% 10,258 4,940 2,371 358 17,996
NelspruitEastNPNP 7,335 51.3% 2,126 70.9% 7,335 5,209 1,006 713 14,303
NigelPWVNPCP 7,474 49.9% 641 69.8% 6,833 7,474 565 14,969
North RandPWVNPNP 9,940 40.7% 1,197 70.2% 9,940 5,543 8,743 24,428
OvervaalPWVNPCP 8,155 53.2% 1,074 65.4% 7,081 8,155 15,325
ParktownPWVPFPPFP 7,839 65.9% 3,953 65.3% 3,886 7,839 11,887
PietersburgNorthNPCP 8,346 53.3% 1,151 76.1% 7,195 8,346 15,648
PotchefstroomWestNPNP 6,882 51.8% 558 70.9% 6,882 6,324 13,278
PotgietersrusNorthNPCP 7,761 50.2% 1,238 81.5% 6,523 7,761 1,136 15,470
Pretoria CentralPWVNPNP 5,394 57.0% 2,470 54.0% 5,394 2,924 502 568 9,469
Pretoria EastPWVNPNP 14,389 56.0% 8,242 80.1% 14,389 6,147 4,573 444 25,672
Pretoria WestPWVNPNP 6,998 49.1% 1,326 58.6% 6,998 5,672 1,509 14,262
PrimrosePWVNPNP 7,612 57.3% 2,392 66.2% 7,612 5,220 275 13,293
RandburgPWVNPInd 8,240 55.8% 2,646 69.7% 5,593 884 8,240 14,767
RandfonteinPWVNPCP 7,999 54.8% 1,732 65.7% 6,267 7,999 267 14,591
RissikPWVNPNP 7,040 56.7% 3,846 64.6% 7,040 3,194 2,049 12,411
RoodeplaatPWVNPNP 8,289 49.6% 1,645 76.0% 8,289 6,644 1,589 16,712
RoodepoortPWVNPCP 6,870 49.4% 714 65.1% 6,156 6,870 739 119 13,914
RosettenvillePWVNPNP 7,269 65.6% 5,042 55.2% 7,269 2,227 1,460 11,087
RustenburgWestNPNP 6,736 45.2% 816 65.9% 6,736 5,920 502 1,734 14,918
SandtonPWVPFPPFP 10,980 68.5% 6,106 65.5% 4,874 10,980 16,030
Schweizer-RenekeWestNPCP 5,622 48.3% 191 78.8% 5,431 5,622 544 11,636
SoutpansbergNorthNPCP 7,170 49.6% 250 82.0% 6,920 7,170 267 14,444
SpringsPWVNPNP 6,523 48.1% 884 67.2% 6,523 5,639 1,325 13,558
StandertonEastNPCP 7,096 50.2% 952 70.9% 6,144 7,096 834 14,138
StilfonteinWestNPNP 5,504 44.6% 209 65.5% 5,504 5,295 1,289 12,331
SunnysidePWVNPNP 6,298 53.4% 3,233 65.9% 6,298 3,065 2,365 11,795
TurffonteinPWVNPNP 9,010 61.5% 5,859 60.9% 9,010 3,151 2,333 14,641
VanderbijlparkPWVNPNP 9,092 57.0% 2,346 66.6% 9,092 6,746 15,956
VentersdorpWestNPCP 6,704 54.1% 1,531 73.0% 6,704 5,173 448 12,390
VereenigingPWVNPNP 7,120 52.0% 1,524 66.1% 7,120 5,596 933 13,684
VerwoerdburgPWVNPNP 10,940 58.5% 4,991 78.2% 10,940 5,949 1,748 18,698
WaterbergNorthNPCP 7,122 51.8% 2,375 77.4% 4,717 7,122 1,845 13,749
WaterkloofPWVNPNP 7,790 48.5% 2,650 80.9% 7,790 3,038 5,140 16,074
WestdenePWVNPNP 7,531 55.9% 4,353 68.0% 7,531 2,666 3,178 13,483
WitbankEastNPCP 8,319 49.3% 842 68.6% 7,477 8,319 886 16,891
WonderboomPWVNPNP 9,496 49.1% 599 75.5% 9,496 8,897 841 19,342
YeovillePWVPFPPFP 7,707 62.2% 3,159 60.4% 4,548 7,707 12,394
Total for all constituencies Turnout
NP CP PFP HNP NRP Independents Total
Votes
66.8%529,216381,066123,66234,8154,01111,201 1,083,971
48.8% 35.2%11.4%3.2%0.4%1.0% 100.0%
Seats
47 217001 76
61.8% 27.6%8.9%0%0%1.3% 100.0%

Reactions

Anglican Archbishop and Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu noted after the election, "We have entered the dark ages of the history of our country".[5]

Donald Simpson, writing in the South African newspaper, The Star, went as far as to predict that the National Party would lose the next election and that the Conservative Party would become the new government of South Africa.[6]

References

  1. Smith, William E (18 May 1987). "South Africa: A Lurch to the Right". Time Magazine. Archived from the original on 19 August 2013.
  2. South Africa Inter-Parliamentary Union
  3. Dieter Nohlen, Michael Krennerich & Bernhard Thibaut (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, pp832–836 ISBN 0-19-829645-2
  4. Government Gazette 10751. 22 May 1987.
  5. "South Africa Takes Step Backward". Sun-Sentinel. 9 May 1987. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  6. The Star, 24 May 1987
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