15 March 1961
South Africa withdraws its application to remain in the Commonwealth
At the Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ Conference, Hendrik Verwoerd withdrew South Africa's application to remain a member after it became a republic.
View in timelineThe 1960 referendum authorised the government to establish a republic, but Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd initially sought to keep South Africa within the Commonwealth. Because the country’s constitutional relationship with the Crown was changing, continued membership required the agreement of the other Commonwealth governments.
At the March 1961 Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ Conference in London, several leaders pressed for discussion of South Africa’s racial policies. Verwoerd maintained that these were domestic matters, while critics argued that apartheid was incompatible with the association’s developing commitments. When continued membership on an agreed basis proved unattainable, Verwoerd withdrew South Africa’s application on 15 March.
Significance
The withdrawal separated the Commonwealth question from the establishment of the republic. South Africa’s existing membership ended when the new constitutional order commenced on 31 May 1961.
Why it matters
The decision meant that South Africa's Commonwealth membership would end when the republic was established on 31 May 1961, changing its international position as well as its constitutional form.
Perspective notes
Verwoerd entered the conference seeking continued membership and maintained that South Africa's domestic policies fell within national jurisdiction. Several member governments argued that apartheid conflicted with the Commonwealth's developing principles of racial equality and pressed for a critical declaration; Verwoerd withdrew the application when agreement could not be reached.