Va-PoReg Country Report Cape Colony 1900–1909

The Cape Colony (Cape of Good Hope) was a British Crown Colony (part of the British Empire) from 1806 to 1910 (Gwaindepi/Fourie 2020). However, the Cape Colony was granted self-governance (responsible government) in 1872 under Prime Minster John Molteno, after it was granted a constitution with an elected parliament (Oliver/Anthony 2005).¹ Responsible government did not mean self-governance in the sense of full internal autonomy (Burman 1981). However, in a comparative perspective it makes sense to classify the country de facto as a semi-sovereign protectorate and not a colony. Voting rights were not limited to race but were based on property. Based on our observations, multiparty executive and legislative elections were held during this period, which contradicts the observations of LIED. Therefore, no competitive elections were provided (LIED). This distinguished the Cape Colony from Natal, Transvaal and Orange Free State (Trapido 1964).² Nevertheless, the right to vote was severely restricted, which is why the regime is also classified as an electoral oligarchy. Besides, for this short period political liberties were absent (LIED).

On this date the province of Cape Colony was joined with three other provinces (Natal, the Orange Free State and Transvaal) under a single administration as the Union of South Africa with the status as a self-governing colony (Leacock 1910). FH and V-Dem do not consider Cape Colony in its data.

For the time after 05/31/1910, see South Africa.

Additional sources (Saunders/Smith 1999)