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Witness History: South Africa's referendum on apartheid

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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)

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