AHC: Earliest South African independence

With a POD sometime after WW1, how soon can South Africa declare independence from Britain, and by what means? I assume greater domination by the National Party, but that's about as far as I've got.
 
With a POD sometime after WW1, how soon can South Africa declare independence from Britain, and by what means? I assume greater domination by the National Party, but that's about as far as I've got.

South Africa was de facto independent after 1910 and de jure independent from 1931. The Cape had had responsible government since the 1870s, the ZAR and OFS since the 1850s and Natal from about the 1890s.

So, I'm not too sure what you're asking here.
 
South Africa was de facto independent after 1910 and de jure independent from 1931. The Cape had had responsible government since the 1870s, the ZAR and OFS since the 1850s and Natal from about the 1890s.

So, I'm not too sure what you're asking here.

It would seem to fall into the basket of too much hard work for too little apparent gain pre WW2. Then post WW2, well, any time you want really
 
South Africa was de facto independent after 1910 and de jure independent from 1931. The Cape had had responsible government since the 1870s, the ZAR and OFS since the 1850s and Natal from about the 1890s.

So, I'm not too sure what you're asking here.

I'm asking for a 1961-style referendum that splits South Africa off from the Commonwealth, or some other means by which South Africa acts with a far greater degree of independence than the other dominions.
 
I'm asking for a 1961-style referendum that splits South Africa off from the Commonwealth, or some other means by which South Africa acts with a far greater degree of independence than the other dominions.

Well, the National Party had already won an election in 1924 (although with a minority of the vote).

Maybe bring the Depression forward a few years, butterfly away Fusion that happened in OTL in 1933 and you may be on your way to having a more Afrikaner nationalist state by the late 1920s or early 1930s.
 
Like other pasters I had assumed independence came in 1910. It would be similar to the Irish Free State. The Afrikaners elect a South Arfian equivalent of De Valera who gains De Facto indendence in the early 1930's. South Africa remains neutral in the Second World War and has pro axis leanings. Leaves the Commowealth in the late 1940's and brings in apartheid laws earlier
 
Last edited:
Top