BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

Original version

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

Witness History

Podcasts

Factual: History

History as told by the people who were there

History as told by the people who were there.

Witness History: South Africa's referendum on apartheid

Documentaries

South Africa's referendum on apartheid

22/04/2024 GMT

BBC World Service - Witness History, South Africa's referendum on apartheid

The last whites-only vote in South Africa was held in 1992

In 1992 FW de Klerk asked white South Africans to vote yes to continuing negotiations to abolish apartheid and create a new constitution.

On 18 March 1992, white South Africans overwhelmingly backed a mandate for political reforms to end apartheid and create a power-sharing multi-racial government. 

It was a high-stakes referendum coming on the back of three by-elections where the ruling National Party had lost to the right wing Conservative party. 

In a speech after the polling victory, President FW de Klerk said: “Today we have closed the book on apartheid”. His communications adviser, David Steward speaks to Josephine McDermott.

(Photo: President FW de Klerk with news of the referendum win. Credit: AP)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Witness History

South Africa's referendum on apartheid

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

About BBC World Service