The South African Liberal Party was a South African political party from 1953 to 1968.

Founding of the Party

The party was founded on 9th May 1953 at a meeting of the South African Liberal Association in Cape Town (Paton 1968 p28). Essentially it grew out of a belief that the United Party was unable to achieve any real liberal progress in South Africa. Its establishment occurred during the "Coloured Vote" Constitutional Crisis of the 1950's, and the division of the [Tourch Commando]] on the matter of mixed membership.

Founding members of the party included (original positions in the party given) Margaret Ballinger (South African MP) - President of party Alan Paton (novelist) - Vice-President Leo Marquard - Vice President Dr Oscar Wolheim - National Chairperson

Contact

The Newspaper contact was closely tide to the Liberal Party, although offically it was a separate publication. The link is described by Callan in the following terms:

"Nevertheless, Contact has become so invariably associated in the public mind with the Liberal Party that it now seems merely academic to insist on its independent status (Paton 1968 p50).

It however may be more accurate to tie the paper to Patrick Duncan Jnr than the Liberal Party.

End of the Party

The party was in direct conflict with the South African government from the outset of its existance. This was due largely to the parties opposition to apartheid and criticism of Afrikaaner Nationalism . Many of its members were placed under banned and persecuted by the South African government, furthermore the party was repeatedly accused of involvement with the spread of communism. The South African government outlawed the Liberal Party in 1968 under the so-called Prohibition of Political Interferences Act , which banned parties from having a multiracial membership.

See also

• Liberalism
• Contributions to liberal theory
• Liberalism worldwide
• List of liberal parties
• Liberal democracy
• Liberalism in South Africa

Bibliography

1. A.Paton, The Long View E Callan (ed) (1968) Frederick A. Praeger Publishers: New York

Collection of essays and so forth by Alan Paton compiled together by E Callan, although regarded and shelfed (at the Rhodes University Library) under Paton as author.