1961 South African General Election
First republic election18 October 1961 · The apartheid parliament · 156 seats, 79 for a majority
General elections were held in South Africa on 18 October 1961. They were the first general elections after South Africa became a republic following the 1960 South African referendum.
A whites-only election under apartheid: the great majority of South Africans were denied the vote entirely. Recorded here as history, with that exclusion stated plainly.
Government leader before
H. F. Verwoerd
National
Government leader (continued)
H. F. Verwoerd
National
Largest force
National Party
105 of 156 seats
Turnout
44.5%
The result
National Party
H. F. Verwoerd · 46.4% of votes · +2 seats
105
seats
United Party
De Villiers Graaff · 35.3% of votes · +4 seats
49
seats
Progressive Party
Jan Steytler · 8.7% of votes
1
seats
National Union
Henry Allan Fagan · 6.3% of votes
1
seats