South African Party

The South African Party (SAP) was a major political party in South Africa from 1910 until 1934, when it was dissolved and fused with the National Party to form the United Party.

South Africa's first government

The Union of South Africa held its first general elections in September 1910, when the national party system was still in its infancy. The South African Party was formed shortly after the election as a coalition government of 67 members of parliament elected from three provincial parties: the Transvaal's Het Volk (The People), the Orange Free State's Orangia Unie (Orange Union), and the Cape's Afrikaner Bond (Afrikaner Association). Its first leader and prime minister until 1919 was Louis Botha, one of several Anglo-Boer War generals who played a prominent role in South African politics during the first half of the twentieth century.

During its first five years in power, the SAP passed several notable pieces of legislation, including the Mines and Works Act of 1911 and the Natives Land Act of 1913.