United Party (South Africa)

Not to be confused with the United Party of South Africa, a minor 21st-century political party.

United National South African Party
Verenigde Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Party (Afrikaans)
AbbreviationUP
LeaderJ.B.M. Hertzog
J.C. Smuts
J.G.N. Strauss
De Villiers Graaff
Founded1934
Dissolved1977
Preceded byNational Party
South African Party
Merged intoNew Republic Party
IdeologyClassical liberalism
Conservatism
Pro-Commonwealth
Constitutional monarchism
Coloured people's rights
Political positionCentre-right

The United National South African Party (Afrikaans: Verenigde Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Party) commonly the United Party (UP) (Afrikaans: Verenigde Party, VP) was a South African political party that was the ruling party from its formation in 1934 until 1948. Formed from the parties of Prime Ministers J. B. M. Hertzog and Jan Smuts, the United Party bridged white English-speakers, Afrikaners and Coloureds. It was considered more liberal on race relations than the National Party, which strongly supported the preservation of white supremacy. The United Party lost the 1948 general election to the National Party which subsequently implemented apartheid. The United Party never held power again and dissolved in 1977, with remnants forming the New Republic Party and other smaller groups.

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