12 October 1908–11 May 1909
National Convention
Delegates selected through the Cape, Natal, Transvaal and Orange River Colony governments met in a National Convention to draft the constitution that became the South Africa Act.
View in timelineDelegates selected through the governments of the Cape, Natal, Transvaal and Orange River Colony met from October 1908 to May 1909 to draft the constitution that became the South Africa Act. All the delegates were white men, reflecting the composition and political rules of the participating colonial governments.
Significance
The Convention produced the Union settlement, including compromises that retained the Cape qualified franchise but limited membership of the new Parliament to white men.
Why it matters
The Convention produced the Union settlement and reconciled different colonial franchise systems while reserving membership of the new Parliament for white men.