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

← 1981 6 May 1987 1989 →

166 of the 178 seats in the House of Assembly
84 seats needed for a majority
Registered3,031,414
Turnout67.84% (Increase 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 Decrease 8 New party Decrease 7
Popular vote 1,075,505 547,559 288,574
Percentage 52.70% 26.83% 14.14%
Swing Decrease 4.96pp New party Decrease 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

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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

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Constituency 1981
result
1987 winning party Turnout Votes
Party Votes Share Majority NP PFP CP HNP NRP Independents Total
Albany PFP NP 5,642 50.8% 844 69.9% 5,642 4,798 589 11,105
Algoa NP NP 7,382 62.6% 4,682 65.8% 7,382 1,449 2,700 229 11,793
Aliwal NP NP 4,379 58.6% 2,467 69.9% 4,379 678 1,912 308 7,299
Beaufort West NP NP 4,568 64.1% 2,486 75.5% 4,568 2,082 418 7,128
Bellville NP NP 7,087 75.0% 5,636 63.4% 7,087 870 1,452 9,455
Caledon NP NP 7,100 80.0% 4,636 71.4% 7,100 2,464 9,731
Cape Town Gardens PFP PFP 4,511 46.8% 486 58.8% 4,511 4,997 9,643
Ceres NP NP 5,333 67.4% 2,860 75.4% 5,333 2,473 7,909
Claremont PFP PFP 100% Unopposed
Constantia PFP PFP 8,008 63.2% 3,452 65.1% 4,556 8,008 12,661
Cradock NP NP 4,532 55.8% 2,396 76.0% 4,532 1,184 2,136 251 8,124
De Aar NP NP 4,584 57.6% 1,283 78.3% 4,584 3,301 7,964
De Kuilen NP NP 10,244 73.4% 8,218 69.4% 10,244 1,326 2,026 284 13,963
Durbanville NP NP 10,983 61.1% 6,084 77.0% 10,983 4,899 1,636 280 17,986
East London City NP NP 7,035 67.7% 3,782 60.3% 7,035 3,253 10,388
East London North NP NP 7,569 64.3% 3,873 66.5% 7,569 3,696 467 11,773
False Bay NP NP 8,644 77.9% 7,404 65.7% 8,644 1,240 1,161 11,093
George NP NP 8,312 64.4% 6,278 69.7% 8,312 2,034 1,918 571 12,901
Gordonia NP NP 4,606 60.2% 2,181 72.2% 4,606 2,425 593 7,649
Graaff-Reinet NP NP 4,268 54.5% 1,928 78.7% 4,268 2,340 181 1,035 7,835
Green Point PFP PFP 3,608 49.9% 39 52.9% 3,569 3,608 7,232
Groote Schuur PFP PFP 100% Unopposed
Helderberg NP NP 8,439 46.7% 39 82.2% 8,439 1,189 8,400 18,076
Humansdorp NP NP 6,740 55.2% 3,798 73.0% 6,740 2,169 2,942 329 12,207
Kimberley North NP NP 5,539 56.1% 2,650 69.2% 5,539 989 2,889 433 9,881
Kimberley South NP NP 6,757 62.3% 4,052 70.9% 6,757 825 2,705 522 10,845
King William's Town NRP NP 7,127 61.5% 2,731 64.7% 7,172 4,441 11,671
Kuruman NP NP 4,154 52.0% 352 77.7% 4,154 3,802 7,986
Maitland NP NP 7,508 64.0% 4,280 60.7% 7,508 3,228 774 144 11,737
Malmesbury NP NP 8,901 71.1% 7,415 66.5% 8,901 1,486 1,435 638 12,514
Mossel Bay NP NP 7,108 65.4% 3,435 76.5% 7,108 3,673 10,873
Namaqualand NP NP 4,489 62.6% 1,849 71.5% 4,489 2,640 7,176
Newton Park NP NP 7,840 58.6% 3,386 75.6% 7,840 4,454 983 13,375
Oudtshoorn NP NP 5,358 56.5% 1,296 73.5% 5,358 4,062 9,476
Paarl NP NP 7,753 71.0% 5,606 67.6% 7,753 989 2,147 10,919
Parow NP NP 8,122 76.0% 6,448 65.3% 8,122 571 1,674 274 10,689
Piketberg NP NP 8,210 73.3% 5,314 76.3% 8,210 2,896 11,200
Pinelands PFP PFP 6,958 59.5% 2,422 72.9% 4,536 6,958 11,690
Port Elizabeth Central PFP PFP 4,714 52.6% 596 61.4% 4,118 4,714 8,961
Port Elizabeth North NP NP 6,507 71.3% 4,503 55.2% 6,507 2,004 443 9,128
Prieska NP NP 3,949 61.0% 2,069 72.4% 3,949 1,880 565 6,476
Queenstown NP NP 4,639 51.1% 2,162 73.0% 4,639 1,570 2,477 9,078
Sea Point PFP PFP 8,010 71.5% 4,934 65.7% 3,076 8,010 11,207
Simonstown NP NP 7,288 50.6% 268 70.2% 7,288 7,020 14,412
Stellenbosch NP NP 5,296 56.5% 1,781 69.7% 5,296 494 3,515 9,376
Sundays River NP NP 6,088 61.1% 2,868 75.6% 6,088 305 3,220 311 9,957
Swellendam NP NP 5,812 60.9% 3,188 78.0% 5,812 2,624 1,042 9,541
Tygervallei NP NP 8,350 81.4% 7,178 57.1% 8,350 667 1,172 10,264
Uitenhage NP NP 5,953 57.1% 1,878 66.4% 5,953 4,075 197 10,428
Vasco NP NP 7,160 73.2% 5,243 60.6% 7,160 1,917 676 9,780
Vryburg NP NP 4,500 56.4% 1,374 78.8% 4,500 3,126 308 7,980
Walmer PFP NP 6,151 51.7% 539 69.2% 6,151 5,612 11,895
Walvis Bay NP 1,782 72.6% 1,140 52.7% 1,782 642 2,454
Wellington NP NP 8,877 72.6% 6,798 64.1% 8,877 833 2,079 355 12,230
Worcester NP NP 7,553 75.9% 5,308 67.5% 7,553 2,245 9,953
Wynberg PFP NP 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% 333,499 90,966 80,366 13,772 12,272 13,417 544,292
61.3% 16.7% 14.8% 2.5% 2.3% 2.5% 100.0%
Seats
48 8 0 0 0 0 56
85.7% 14.3% 0% 0% 0% 0% 100.0%

Natal

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Constituency 1981
result
1987 winning party Turnout Votes
Party Votes Share Majority NP PFP CP NRP HNP Independents Total
Amanzimtoti NRP NP 6,392 51.0% 1,884 66.6% 6,392 1,597 4,508 12,538
Berea PFP PFP 7,071 64.4% 3,160 66.1% 3,911 7,071 10,982
Durban Central PFP PFP 5,592 56.6% 1,360 58.7% 4,232 5,592 9,888
Durban North NRP PFP 7,718 57.0% 2,110 71.6% 5,608 7,718 13,548
Durban Point NRP NP 5,017 56.7% 1,230 51.4% 5,017 3,787 8,849
Greytown PFP PFP 7,106 48.1% 676 70.4% 6,430 7,106 1,175 14,773
Klip River NP NP 5,956 54.0% 3,480 71.9% 5,956 1,930 2,467 634 11,045
Mooi River NRP NRP 6,103 51.7% 1,807 71.7% 4,296 1,357 6,103 11,800
Newcastle NP NP 5,713 47.0% 1,064 66.0% 5,713 822 4,649 904 12,152
Pietermaritzburg North PFP NP 6,652 52.5% 1,121 68.3% 6,652 5,531 414 12,666
Pietermaritzburg South PFP NP 7,436 54.0% 1,509 69.2% 7,436 5,927 352 13,778
Pinetown PFP PFP 8,293 58.0% 2,394 69.8% 5,899 8,293 14,297
Port Natal NP NP 7,092 57.1% 3,703 64.5% 7,092 3,389 1,875 12,415
South Coast NRP NP 5,778 49.6% 1,419 72.2% 5,772 1,469 4,359 11,640
Umbilo NRP NP 5,050 52.0% 480 57.4% 5,050 4,570 9,716
Umfolozi NP NP 4,381 45.7% 1,743 62.5% 4,381 2,638 2,531 9,584
Umhlanga NRP NP 6,195 51.9% 557 67.4% 6,195 5,638 11,933
Umhlatuzana NP NP 8,234 64.8% 3,519 66.1% 8,234 4,715 718 13,712
Umlazi NP NP 8,035 65.0% 4,882 63.0% 8,035 3,153 966 167 12,363
Vryheid NP NP 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% 119,293 66,885 21,050 23,327 4,446 2,531 237,532
50.2% 28.2% 8.9% 9.8% 1.9% 1.1% 100.0%
Seats
14 5 0 1 0 0 20
70% 25% 0% 5% 0% 0% 100.0%

Orange Free State

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Constituency 1981
result
1987 winning party Turnout Votes
Party Votes Share Majority NP CP HNP PFP Total
Bethlehem NP NP 6,923 56.1% 2,038 77.8% 6,923 4,885 433 12,337
Bloemfontein East NP NP 8,518 60.8% 3,118 65.8% 8,518 5,400 14,008
Bloemfontein North NP NP 7,152 62.0% 4,353 69.9% 7,152 2,799 1,532 11,535
Bloemfontein West NP NP 7,371 65.8% 3,658 75.5% 7,371 3,713 11,198
Fauresmith NP NP 4,226 51.3% 1,048 63.4% 4,226 3,178 792 8,237
Heilbron NP NP 5,713 50.4% 680 71.4% 5,713 5,033 567 11,346
Kroonstad NP NP 6,960 61.7% 2,724 72.2% 6,960 4,236 11,283
Ladybrand NP NP 5,870 53.3% 842 80.4% 5,870 5,028 11,012
Parys NP NP 6,412 47.9% 183 76.7% 6,412 6,229 696 13,397
Sasolburg NP NP 7,334 48.9% 2,673 72.9% 7,334 2,933 4,661 14,995
Smithfield NP NP 5,162 55.0% 1,684 70.4% 5,162 2,136 710 9,388
Virginia NP NP 6,708 55.0% 3,047 62.7% 6,708 3,661 1,237 551 12,191
Welkom NP NP 7,891 52.7% 2,309 64.7% 7,891 5,582 938 529 14,968
Winburg NP NP 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% 93,497 59,546 10,505 2,612 166,160
56.3% 35.8% 6.3% 1.6% 100.0%
Seats
14 0 0 0 14
100.0% 0% 0% 0% 100.0%

Transvaal

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Constituency Region 1981
result
1987 winning party Turnout Votes
Party Votes Share Majority NP CP PFP HNP NRP Independents Total
Alberton PWV NP NP 7,695 55.0% 1,946 66.0% 7,695 5,749 387 14,001
Barberton East NP CP 6,050 46.7% 284 72.4% 5,766 6,050 1,090 12,965
Benoni PWV NP NP 6,498 49.3% 2,798 65.2% 6,498 2,915 3,700 13,173
Bethal East NP CP 10,331 52.7% 1,612 69.1% 8,719 10,331 474 19,606
Bezuidenhout PWV PFP NP 7,354 58.9% 2,442 58.8% 7,534 4,912 12,492
Boksburg PWV NP NP 7,198 50.5% 2,790 66.1% 7,198 4,408 2,055 556 14,264
Brakpan PWV NP CP 6,827 49.6% 288 66.7% 6,539 6,827 251 13,755
Brentwood PWV NP NP 7,955 50.4% 2,011 68.1% 7,955 5,944 1,836 15,780
Brits West NP CP 7,311 54.4% 1,667 75.8% 5,644 7,311 430 13,438
Bryanston PWV PFP PFP 7,398 51.1% 2,533 68.7% 4,865 7,398 2,128 14,469
Carletonville PWV NP CP 5,970 47.7% 98 64.4% 5,872 5,970 571 12,514
Delmas East NP CP 7,216 44.7% 275 72.8% 6,941 7,216 1,058 793 16,140
Edenvale PWV PFP NP 6,902 50.0% 168 65.1% 6,902 6,734 13,808
Ermelo East NP CP 6,641 49.4% 671 74.3% 5,970 6,641 766 13,446
Florida PWV NP NP 7,509 53.1% 4,251 78.9% 7,509 3,158 2,591 833 14,148
Geduld PWV NP NP 8,045 54.8% 1,723 65.7% 8,045 6,322 14,686
Germiston PWV NP NP 6,507 53.2% 2,440 59.8% 6,407 3,967 1,404 386 12,238
Germiston District PWV NP NP 7,604 56.7% 2,394 58.9% 7,604 5,210 350 13,420
Gezina PWV NP NP 6,584 52.3% 1,328 64.9% 6,584 5,256 566 12,582
Helderkruin PWV NP NP 9,815 49.9% 4,617 71.2% 9,815 5,198 4,572 19,676
Hercules PWV NP NP 6,114 39.2% 861 70.0% 6,114 5,253 4,123 15,587
Hillbrow PWV PFP PFP 3,455 42.8% 89 43.3% 3,455 1,196 3,366 8,074
Houghton PWV PFP PFP 8,635 63.1% 3,851 67.4% 4,784 8,635 13,689
Innesdal PWV NP NP 7,274 49.9% 1,024 75.5% 7,274 6,250 871 14,564
Jeppe PWV NP NP 6,206 67.3% 4,231 42.2% 6,206 1,975 1,010 9,216
Johannesburg North PWV PFP PFP 8,609 66.4% 4,488 68.2% 4,121 8,609 12,960
Johannesburg West PWV NP NP 5,951 57.3% 3,566 51.6% 5,951 2,385 1,911 10,383
Kempton Park PWV NP NP 7,809 56.4% 2,379 65.8% 7,809 5,430 362 13,851
Klerksdorp West NP NP 6,980 43.6% 1,852 69.1% 8,832 6,980 16,020
Koedoespoort PWV NP NP 8,284 55.0% 3,167 72.1% 8,284 5,117 1,250 15,060
Krugersdorp PWV NP NP 7,238 49.7% 55 65.4% 7,238 7,183 14,577
Langlaagte PWV NP NP 6,524 56.4% 2,633 58.5% 6,524 3,891 849 267 11,574
Lichtenburg West NP CP 7,595 57.5% 2,590 79.5% 5,005 7,595 565 13,206
Losberg PWV NP CP 8,404 54.7% 1,886 67.8% 6,518 8,404 15,374
Lydenburg East NP NP 5,711 47.2% 143 73.8% 5,854 5,711 439 12,110
Maraisburg PWV NP NP 5,302 49.7% 837 52.6% 5,302 4,465 617 282 10,666
Meyerton PWV NP NP 7,975 46.9% 360 66.6% 7,975 7,615 1,333 16,998
Middelburg East NP CP 8,123 48.6% 529 73.3% 8,123 7,531 1,010 16,719
Modderfontein PWV NP NP 10,258 57.0% 5,318 67.8% 10,258 4,940 2,371 358 17,996
Nelspruit East NP NP 7,335 51.3% 2,126 70.9% 7,335 5,209 1,006 713 14,303
Nigel PWV NP CP 7,474 49.9% 641 69.8% 6,833 7,474 565 14,969
North Rand PWV NP NP 9,940 40.7% 1,197 70.2% 9,940 5,543 8,743 24,428
Overvaal PWV NP CP 8,155 53.2% 1,074 65.4% 7,081 8,155 15,325
Parktown PWV PFP PFP 7,839 65.9% 3,953 65.3% 3,886 7,839 11,887
Pietersburg North NP CP 8,346 53.3% 1,151 76.1% 7,195 8,346 15,648
Potchefstroom West NP NP 6,882 51.8% 558 70.9% 6,882 6,324 13,278
Potgietersrus North NP CP 7,761 50.2% 1,238 81.5% 6,523 7,761 1,136 15,470
Pretoria Central PWV NP NP 5,394 57.0% 2,470 54.0% 5,394 2,924 502 568 9,469
Pretoria East PWV NP NP 14,389 56.0% 8,242 80.1% 14,389 6,147 4,573 444 25,672
Pretoria West PWV NP NP 6,998 49.1% 1,326 58.6% 6,998 5,672 1,509 14,262
Primrose PWV NP NP 7,612 57.3% 2,392 66.2% 7,612 5,220 275 13,293
Randburg PWV NP Ind 8,240 55.8% 2,646 69.7% 5,593 884 8,240 14,767
Randfontein PWV NP CP 7,999 54.8% 1,732 65.7% 6,267 7,999 267 14,591
Rissik PWV NP NP 7,040 56.7% 3,846 64.6% 7,040 3,194 2,049 12,411
Roodeplaat PWV NP NP 8,289 49.6% 1,645 76.0% 8,289 6,644 1,589 16,712
Roodepoort PWV NP CP 6,870 49.4% 714 65.1% 6,156 6,870 739 119 13,914
Rosettenville PWV NP NP 7,269 65.6% 5,042 55.2% 7,269 2,227 1,460 11,087
Rustenburg West NP NP 6,736 45.2% 816 65.9% 6,736 5,920 502 1,734 14,918
Sandton PWV PFP PFP 10,980 68.5% 6,106 65.5% 4,874 10,980 16,030
Schweizer-Reneke West NP CP 5,622 48.3% 191 78.8% 5,431 5,622 544 11,636
Soutpansberg North NP CP 7,170 49.6% 250 82.0% 6,920 7,170 267 14,444
Springs PWV NP NP 6,523 48.1% 884 67.2% 6,523 5,639 1,325 13,558
Standerton East NP CP 7,096 50.2% 952 70.9% 6,144 7,096 834 14,138
Stilfontein West NP NP 5,504 44.6% 209 65.5% 5,504 5,295 1,289 12,331
Sunnyside PWV NP NP 6,298 53.4% 3,233 65.9% 6,298 3,065 2,365 11,795
Turffontein PWV NP NP 9,010 61.5% 5,859 60.9% 9,010 3,151 2,333 14,641
Vanderbijlpark PWV NP NP 9,092 57.0% 2,346 66.6% 9,092 6,746 15,956
Ventersdorp West NP CP 6,704 54.1% 1,531 73.0% 6,704 5,173 448 12,390
Vereeniging PWV NP NP 7,120 52.0% 1,524 66.1% 7,120 5,596 933 13,684
Verwoerdburg PWV NP NP 10,940 58.5% 4,991 78.2% 10,940 5,949 1,748 18,698
Waterberg North NP CP 7,122 51.8% 2,375 77.4% 4,717 7,122 1,845 13,749
Waterkloof PWV NP NP 7,790 48.5% 2,650 80.9% 7,790 3,038 5,140 16,074
Westdene PWV NP NP 7,531 55.9% 4,353 68.0% 7,531 2,666 3,178 13,483
Witbank East NP CP 8,319 49.3% 842 68.6% 7,477 8,319 886 16,891
Wonderboom PWV NP NP 9,496 49.1% 599 75.5% 9,496 8,897 841 19,342
Yeoville PWV PFP PFP 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% 529,216 381,066 123,662 34,815 4,011 11,201 1,083,971
48.8% 35.2% 11.4% 3.2% 0.4% 1.0% 100.0%
Seats
47 21 7 0 0 1 76
61.8% 27.6% 8.9% 0% 0% 1.3% 100.0%

Reactions

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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

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  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