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Pact government
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Pact government

South African history
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Quick Summary

The Pact years in South African history, from 1924 to 1933, refer to a period when the Pact government, led by Hertzog, significantly strengthened the country's autonomy and supported local industries and white workers against Black competition. This era saw the implementation of economic nationalism through protective tariffs and the establishment of a state-run iron and steel industry.1

While white workers saw some gains, Black South Africans experienced further restrictions, diminished opportunities, and deteriorating economic conditions. This period also witnessed the rise of mass-based Black political organizations like the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) and the Communist Party of South Africa (CPSA), which advocated for Black rights and majority rule. The political landscape was marked by challenges to white supremacy, with "Black peril" and "communist menace" becoming rallying cries for Afrikaner nationalists.1

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2 Britannica Sources
  1. South Africa - The Pact years (1924–33)
  2. South Africa - Political process

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