South African general election, 1987

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The 1987 South African general election was held on 6 May 1987 alsmost six years after the previous election (29 June 1981). The State of Emergency existing in South Africa at that time cast a cloud over the elections. It was once again won by the National Party (NP) under the leadership of P. W. Botha, although for the first time it faced serious opposition from the right of the South African political spectrum.

The rightwing opposition came in the form of the Conservative Party (CP), which opposed even the limited powersharing with Indian and Coloured South Africans that had been implemented by the NP as part of a package of constitutional reforms in 1984. The CP was led by a former NP cabinet minister, Andries Treurnicht. Following the election, the CP became the official opposition party.

The election year also saw important political developments to the left of the NP. During 1987 Denis Worrall resigned as the South African ambassador in London in order to return to politics. Together with Wynand Malan (who had resigned from the NP) and Esther Lategan he formed the Independent Movement to fight the general election. Only Malan won a seat and the partnership consequently disintegrated. Denis Worrall and others subsequently went on to form the Independent Party (IP), while Esther Lategan and others formed the National Democratic Movement.

Partially as a result of the split in the votes to the left of the NP, the Progressive Federal Party (PFP) lost seven of its parliamentary seats as well as its role of official opposition. The New Republic Party (NRP) continued its disintegration and lost 4 of its 5 seats.

[edit] Results

Party	Seats	Percent
National Party	124	52.29%
Conservative Party	22	26.62%
Progressive Federal Party (PFP)	19	14.03%
Herstigte Nasionale Party (HNP)	0	2.99%
New Republic Party (NRP)	1	1.97%
Others including Independent Movement1	1	2.10%
Total	167	100.00%

¹ the seat was won by the Independence Movement.

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