Die andersdenkende Afrikaners in die Nasionale Party as die voorlopers in die aftakeling van apartheid, 1949-1966

Abstract

The establishment of a democratic South Africa in 1994 was the result of many events that took place over a period of forty-five years during which some Afrikaners in the National Party (NP) changed their political direction. Dissentient Afrikaner nationalists, who since 1949 expressed their dissatisfaction with the policy of apartheid, set the tone for the subsequent era of enlightened political thought in 1966 when the 'Verligtes' in the NP came into existence. The 'verligte' influence in the NP caused many reforms of the apartheid policy to be implemented which ultimately led to the establishment of a democratic South Africa in 1994.