National Party unveils its policy plan focusing on anti-poverty strategies

Date: 3 Aug 1996
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

Following the National Party (NP)'s first federal congress since its withdrawal from the Government of National Unity (GNU), its policy plan was unveiled concentrating on anti-poverty strategies. During the federal congress the possibility of the NP changing its name was again discussed. Subsequently, the party changed its name to New National Party (NNP). The NP withdrew from the Government of National Unity on 30 June 1996 following an announcement by South African Deputy President F.W. de Klerk on 10 May 1996. The move to withdraw from the GNU was prompted by the ANC’s rejection of a proposal to have the NGU extended beyond 1999. This meant the NP was declaring itself an official opposition party to the ANC and forfeiting the Deputy President position, which de Klerk held. However, its members would retain their seats in parliament.

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01O’Malley P. ‘1996’, from Nelson Mandela Centre of Memories and Dialogue, [online], available at www.nelsonmandela.org(Accessed: 06 July 2012)
02South African History Online, ‘NP set to withdraw from GNU’, [online], available at www.sahistory.org.za(Accessed: 06 July 2012)

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2012, July 27). National Party unveils its policy plan focusing on anti-poverty strategies. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0089127

South African History Online (2012) 'National Party unveils its policy plan focusing on anti-poverty strategies', South African History Online, 27 July. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0089127 (Accessed: 25 August 2026).

South African History Online, National Party unveils its policy plan focusing on anti-poverty strategies [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0089127, (accessed 25 August 2026).

"National Party unveils its policy plan focusing on anti-poverty strategies." South African History Online, 27 July 2012, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0089127. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "National Party unveils its policy plan focusing on anti-poverty strategies." South African History Online. July 27, 2012. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0089127.