Prime Minister Louis Botha resigns because of conflict with Hertzog

Date: 14 Dec 1912
Updated: 11 Dec 2022

General Louis Botha, premier of the Union of South Africa since 31 May 1910, resigned from his post following an anti-British speech by General J.B.M. Hertzog, minister of justice, at De Wildt, near Pretoria. Hertzog had criticised Botha's policy, which he considered pro-British and had announced that in the event of a conflict of interests between Britain and South Africa, he would put South Africa's interests first. Upon request by the governor-general, Lord Gladstone, Botha reformed his government with Hertzog left out of the new cabinet. Hertzog subsequently formed the National Party (NP) as an opposition to the ruling South African Party (SAP).

Search events by date

What happened on your birthday?

How we know this

01Wallis, F. (2000). Nuusdagboek: feite en fratse oor 1000 jaar, Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau.
02Muller, C.F.J. (ed)(1981). Five Hundred years: a history of South Africa; 3rd rev. ed., Pretoria: Academica, p. 390.
03talktalk. ' Louis Botha resigns ',[Online],Available at:www.talktalk.co.uk, [Accessed:26 November 2013]

Last updated · 11 Dec 2022

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Prime Minister Louis Botha resigns because of conflict with Hertzog. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011345

South African History Online (2011) 'Prime Minister Louis Botha resigns because of conflict with Hertzog', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011345 (Accessed: 21 July 2026).

South African History Online, Prime Minister Louis Botha resigns because of conflict with Hertzog [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011345, (accessed 21 July 2026).

"Prime Minister Louis Botha resigns because of conflict with Hertzog." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011345. Accessed 21 July 2026.

South African History Online. "Prime Minister Louis Botha resigns because of conflict with Hertzog." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011345.