Change Smuts's thinking by giving him a stroke shortly after the war, and a rekindling of friendship with Gandhi and Kant. A reinvigorated and better organized United Party that organized amongst the northern farmers could dispel the myths of Kaffir threats to their dominance against HNP populism. Though Smuts does not live to see his new mission to completion, a new generation of United Party politicians forge a new national identity throughout the 1950s based on all groups working together for the good of the country.
South Africa agrees to both of the UN demands domestically and wrt SW African native consultations in 1946. Co-operation with Israel continues albeit even stronger: the new SA recognizes a fellow traveller in nationbuilding, able to channel formerly racist notions of dominance into betterment. By 1958 blacks are once again allowed to vote on free and almost even terms, with a shift to the Alternative Vote system to keep extreme minority parties out - principally seen as the ANC, the Communists, and the remnants of the HNP hardliners. A puppet ANC-lite is co-opted into the United Party as a caucus, with blacks and Indians encouraged to join to legitimize the state and ruling classes. South Africa is the third nation to sign Eisenhower's "Atoms for Peace" initiative.
The emerging South African national army "advises" the Rhodesian resistance against segregationism, funding the NDP of Joshua Nkomo. while not formally opposing UDI in 1965, but training and supplying ZAPU paramilitaries. Namibian recognition of South African development assistance and political support is shown through a referendum supporting joining the South African state. The mandate formally becomes a province of South Africa in 1967, and UN monitors depart. Uranium mining begins covertly, and the strong Israeli co-operation continues as South Africa strongly supports Israel in the 1967 and 1970 wars, portraying its enemies as Arab proponents of segregation and shariah fighting a liberal, secular, and inclusive state.
The 1970 election is inconclusive as the UP begins to stagnate and old divisions re-arise. The Progressive Labour Party has its best result yet since merging in the mid 1960s, and enters coalition with the UP. To the rage of the remaining segregationists, all leftovers of Rhodes' legacy in South Africa are removed and the Equality Proclamation is made by home secretary Pik Botha in 1973.
The government's ability to hold the country together is put to the test when a fission bomb of unknown provenance explodes in Salisbury, Rhodesia in 1974, wiping out most of the white government and security apparatus at a single stroke. The weapon is later revealed to have been made from South African uranium and Israeli manufacture, smuggled out of the country by segregation sympathists to the Rhodesian regime. Its accidental explosion brings the war to a swift surrender and Nkomo to power, wipes out lingering support for white supremacy in Africa and forces both South Africa and Israel to answer difficult questions about their secret programme...