Die Reënboog - A South African TL

[Texas Bulldog]

From The Rainbow Nation (1996):

"1969 promised to be a big year for South Africa. Since the legalization of the African National Congress in 1963 and the formation of the Congress Coalition in 1964, the incumbent United Party was expected to be dethroned for the first time since 1933. Hopes were high, and, with the results tallied, the final verdict was in: an Coaltion victory.

SOUTH AFRICAN GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS, 25 APRIL 1969

OTHER PARTIES: 1/200 Seats. 0.5%
UNITED PARTY: 56/200 Seats. 28%
NATIONAL PARTY: 21/200 Seats. 10.5%
CONGRESS COALITION 122/200 Seats. 61%

Almost immediately, the results were disputed by MPs of the National Party and (to a lesser extent) the United Party, with riots breaking out in Pretoria and Cape Town. The infamous Pretoria race riots occurred on the 14th, with 2 being killed in a scuffle with police. Naturally, safety was of paramount concern and Albert Luthuli, Prime Minister-Designate, was escorted to Cape Town in an armored railway carriage. Luthuli was met by a jubilant crowd at Cape Town railway station, being cheered all the way to the National Assembly. After being sworn in, a stage was procured for Luthuli."

Excerpt from Luthuli's speech [1]:

"My fellow South Africans.
There is no place I would rather be more. The will of the people has spoken, and I stand here before you as living proof of that fact. Just yesterday, I pondered this with my darling wife Nokukhanya. She has done just as much for me and my campaign as I have myself, and look where we stand now. No greater feat could I have imagined for myself, and I am honored to be able to present myself today, here, as the Prime Minister of our great nation. It has been a great struggle for us to get here. Countless lives, from the last century to the present, have been lost in their persistence for liberation. But we have lived up to their dreams. We have secured our future. We shall endure! I bear no hatred for any man who stands here today. To those here in Cape Town, in Pretoria, in Durban, I approach you, not as an enemy, but as a friend. If South Africa is to thrive, we all must come together in peace. I would like to thank my darling wife Nokukhanya, for all she has done for me, and all she will do. We are indivisble! We are unconquerable!"

Raucous applause erupted from the crowd, and yet there was still a sense of unease. Luthuli had looked sickly, almost frail.
Several days later, the Prime Minister was involved in an accident, being hit by a goods train. He would never live to see his dream realized.

[1] I'm no speechwriter, so any feedback would be appreciated!

 

[focus9912]

Huh, a fast forward.....and what....I need to read it again....

the incumbent United Party was expected to be dethroned for the first time since 1933

Ah... the National and Hertzog bungled the handling of its economy ITTL I presumed, that makes a lot of sense...seems to be a promising premise indeed...

 

[Texas Bulldog]

[1] Jack woke with a start. Practically leaping into his jacket, he hurried down the stairs to the kitchen. He checked his watch. 9 o'clock. He wasn't too late. Grabbing the little wrapping of coins, he slipped quietly but quickly, making sure not to wake his daughters, out onto the dirt track that led down to the main road. Damn it! The bus was late again. When it finally arrived he paid his fare and clambered aboard. The bus stopped 2 blocks from the polling station. He walked briskly through the throngs of pedestrians, till at last, he heard the ballot thunk into the box.


From Rhodesia (2008)

The results of the 1922 referendum forever upended the trajectory of Southern Rhodesia. Determined by an influx of Afrikaners in the years before, the Anglo settlers' hopes for responsible government were dashed when the colony voted to join South Africa. Reactions both internal and external were mixed. Many Boers were irked at the thought of increased English influence, but the overall public perception was positive. Jan Smuts was said to have been overjoyed, with his dream of a Greater South Africa being one step closer to being realized. South African expansionists saw this as a crucial step towards the annexation of the High Commissioner Territories, as had long been desired by Afrikaner nationalists. The ramifications of the referendum would be seen in future elections, but for now, things were just fine in Southern Africa.

This year also saw the beginning of the Rhodesian separatist movement, stemming from the controversial referendum. While never massing more than 2,000 members, the Rhodesian National Party saw its foundation in the aftermath of the referendum. The RNP would be a major thorn in the side of future majority-rule governments for many years...

Southern Rhodesia in 1922.





[1] Just a short update today.

 

[Texas Bulldog]

From The Rainbow Nation (1996):

Arguably, the parties that most defined modern South Africa were those of the Congress Coalition. Formed in 1964 (and named after its short-lived predecessor, known henceforth as the "First Congress Coalition"), its goal was simple: end White Supremacy in South Africa. Derisively known as the "Rainbow Coalition", a name adopted by the coalition by the early 1970s, members led by the ANC made astronomical gains, especially in newly enfranchised areas. Of course, the main support for the Coalition was Blacks, but Indian, White, and Coloured support was crucial in the landslide 1969 election.
.

Albert Luthuli, Leader of the Congress Coalition
1898-1969

​

 

[Seandineen]

Sol Dollie, the head of the Coloured community in the Cape IOTL, seems to be a hiden leader, who could have an important role ITTL.

 

[Texas Bulldog]

Sol Dollie, the head of the Coloured community in the Cape IOTL, seems to be a hiden leader, who could have an important role ITTL.

Thanks! I'lll consider them for the leadership of the Coalition. Are there any sources that you have for them? I don't see any from a simple Google search.

 

[Jonathan Edelstein]

I'm guessing the Rhodesian votes are what kept Malan out of power in 1948 ITTL?

 

[Seandineen]

The United Party while not integrationist, wanted to slowly expand African voting rights, and coopt the mixed race Coloreds.

 

[focus9912]

Thanks! I'lll consider them for the leadership of the Coalition. Are there any sources that you have for them? I don't see any from a simple Google search.

From a different thread that shows up when searching at Google....

Paul Gimieski's The two faces of Aparthied, and Allen Drury's A very Strange Society.

I only saw one mention of Dollie at a first search in the latter book, although perhaps that could just the archive scanning OCR didn't pickup the name...

I'm guessing the Rhodesian votes are what kept Malan out of power in 1948 ITTL?

I do wonder how close is the actual results were IOTL, since perhaps an additional 5 years in power (1933-1938) ITTL could probably swing the vote enough for the United Party to get a majority even with Rhodesia taken out of equation.

 

[Seandineen]

Drury spent time with Dollie. Other than Kazier Matanzima, he was the main Nonwhite leader he interacted with. His conversation with Albert Luthuli, being conducted sub rosa, and brief. Although they were talking about racial reclassification, Dollie struck him as a man who didn't want separate development but saw ways it could be used, With that gone twenty-five years ahead of our time, and Luthuli dying, I thought Dollie could bring about something of what Abel Muzorewa did, in Zimbabwe, let's work together and bury the past, for mutual benefit.

 

[Seandineen]

From a different thread that shows up when searching at Google....

I only saw one mention of Dollie at a first search in the latter book, although perhaps that could just the archive scanning OCR didn't pickup the name...





I do wonder how close is the actual results were IOTL, since perhaps an additional 5 years in power (1933-1938) ITTL could probably swing the vote enough for the United Party to get a majority even with Rhodesia taken out of equation.

Thanks focus for finding my old reference.

 

[Texas Bulldog]

From The Rainbow Nation, (1996):

"The reactions in Northern Rhodesia to the referendum in the South we

re largely apathetic. By that point in time, there was little doubt that a United Rhodesia was practically impossible, some other options had to be considered. Responsible government was demanded by many, as the alternatives were far from palatable. BSAC authorities had thus far been opposed to direct elections, something that drew the ire of the settlers, so the status quo was rejected by many. Union with South Africa, while far and way the new most likely option, was similarly rejected, for fears of being marginalized by the much larger white populations in Southern Rhodesia and elsewhere in the Union. However, a new issue had emerged, one that would change the course of Northern Rhodesia. In 1931, the government in Pretoria argued that since the much more wealthy Southern Rhodesia had been transferred to their control, it would be only natural to grant control of the Northern Rhodesia Protectorate to them. In a rare agreement between the two, both the settlers and the BSAC protested. The current Colonial Secretary, Lord Passfield, agreed with Pretoria. He cited how 'tropical colonies unsuitable for European habitation' could not achieve responsible government. However, the BSAC company, relying on the ruling that Southern Rhodesia was indeed their land before the referendum, stated that they simply did not consent to the transfer. Nevertheless, Northern Rhodesia was dragged kicking and screaming into the Union on January 2, 1932. This of course, did not go without protest. Membership in the Rhodesian National Party skyrocketed, only furthering resentment. But there was some good to come out of the agreement, for the Northern Rhodesian settlers finally had the vote, albeit in South African elections."

​

 

[durante]

From The Rainbow Nation, (1996):

"The reactions in Northern Rhodesia to the referendum in the South we

re largely apathetic. By that point in time, there was little doubt that a United Rhodesia was practically impossible, some other options had to be considered. Responsible government was demanded by many, as the alternatives were far from palatable. BSAC authorities had thus far been opposed to direct elections, something that drew the ire of the settlers, so the status quo was rejected by many. Union with South Africa, while far and way the new most likely option, was similarly rejected, for fears of being marginalized by the much larger white populations in Southern Rhodesia and elsewhere in the Union. However, a new issue had emerged, one that would change the course of Northern Rhodesia. In 1931, the government in Pretoria argued that since the much more populous and wealthy Southern Rhodesia had been transferred to their control, it would be only natural to grant control of the Northern Rhodesia Protectorate to them. In a rare agreement between the two, both the settlers and the BSAC protested. The current Colonial Secretary, Lord Passfield, agreed with Pretoria. He cited how 'tropical colonies unsuitable for European habitation' could not achieve responsible government. However, the BSAC company, relying on the ruling that Southern Rhodesia was indeed their land before the referendum, stated that they simply did not consent to the transfer. Nevertheless, Northern Rhodesia was dragged kicking and screaming into the Union on January 2, 1932. This of course, did not go without protest. Membership in the Rhodesian National Party skyrocketed, only furthering resentment. But there was some good to come out of the agreement, for the Northern Rhodesian settlers finally had the vote, albeit in South African elections."

​

Well that's certainly an unexpected turn!

 

[Seandineen]

What are the role of the mixed race community?

 

[Swede]

OTL Namibia joining South Africa in this timeline seems like an obvious thing. But will be interesting to see how OTL Botswana joins in.
Beyond that? Anything more seems like a stretch.

With good governance through the decades the idea of this larger South Africa becoming a significant player makes a lot of sense.

How large is it btw, compared to Europe or the US?

 

[Texas Bulldog]

What are the role of the mixed race community?

I'm not sure yet, but they're considerably better off right now than in OTL.

OTL Namibia joining South Africa in this timeline seems like an obvious thing. But will be interesting to see how OTL Botswana joins in.
Beyond that? Anything more seems like a stretch.

With good governance through the decades the idea of this larger South Africa becoming a significant player makes a lot of sense.

How large is it btw, compared to Europe or the US?

I totaled the current area at around 1.7 million square miles, compared to Europe's 4m and the USA's 3.8m.
Would it be too much to add Nyasaland?

 

[Swede]

I totaled the current area at around 1.7 million square miles, compared to Europe's 4m and the USA's 3.8m.

The current EU is at about 1.6 million square miles. This South Africa would be bigger than the EU. Nice.

Would it be too much to add Nyasaland?

I think it was part of a union with Rhodesia for a time before independence otl? I.e. not unreasonable?

 

[Texas Bulldog]

I think it was part of a union with Rhodesia for a time before independence otl? I.e. not unreasonable?

Ok.

 

[Seandineen]

Yes indeed the so called Central African federation.

 

[LoftonHenderson]

If South Africa were to have annexed Bechuanaland/Botswana as a province, the name I generally see is "Stellaland." What about for South West Africa/Namibia? Would it have become the province of "South West Africa" or is there another name they would have plausibly used?