Macmillan’s 'winds of change’ speech in Parliament

Updated: 3 Feb 2022

Harold Macmillan, British Conservative prime minister, delivered his 'winds of change' speech, condemning apartheid, to members of both Houses of Parliament in Cape Town. He suggested that the South African government had not yet appreciated the force of the "winds of change" in the world and especially in Africa. This was the first international criticism against the policies of racial segregation delivered within South Africa. SA Prime Minister H.F. Verwoerd rejected Macmillan's assertions in his reply.

How we know this

01Burne, J. (ed)(1989). Chronicle of the World, (Sl): Longman Chronicle.
02Liebenberg, B.J. & Spies, S.B. (eds) (1993). South Africa in the 20th Century, Pretoria: Van Schaik Academic, p. 359.

Last updated · 3 Feb 2022

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Macmillan’s 'winds of change’ speech in Parliament. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011881

South African History Online (2011) 'Macmillan’s 'winds of change’ speech in Parliament', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011881 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

South African History Online, Macmillan’s 'winds of change’ speech in Parliament [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011881, (accessed 12 October 2026).

"Macmillan’s 'winds of change’ speech in Parliament." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011881. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

South African History Online. "Macmillan’s 'winds of change’ speech in Parliament." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011881.