1908 Cape Colony parliamentary election

1908 Cape Colony parliamentary election

21 January 1908 (Council) 12–31 March 1908 (House)
All 107 seats in the House of Assembly 54 seats needed for a majority All 26 seats in the Legislative Council 14 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader John X. Merriman Leander Starr Jameson Party South African Progressive Seats won 69 (House) 14 (Council) 33 (House) 5 (Council)
Blue - South African Party Green - Progressive Party
Prime Minister before election Leander Starr Jameson Progressive Elected Prime Minister John X. Merriman South African Party

Elections for the Parliament of the Cape of Good Hope were held in Cape Colony in 1908. The South African party led by John X. Merriman defeated the governing Progressive Party under Leander Starr Jameson.[1] These elections would be the last for the Cape Colony, with the National Convention that agreed the constitutional framework for the Union of South Africa beginning later that year.

Elections for the Legislative Council were held on 21 January, except for Eastern Province where the election was delayed until 21 February due to the death of a candidate. On 31 January Jameson resigned as Premier after it became clear that the Progressives had lost their majority in the council, which would make governing difficult - even if they could win a majority in the Assembly elections later that year. Merriman was appointed Premier on 3 February, ahead of both the Council election for Eastern Province and the Assembly elections.[2]

Results

Legislative Council

Party		Seats
	South African Party	17
	Progressive Party	8
	Independents	1
Total		26
Source: Smith, pg.69

Legislative Assembly

Party		Seats	+/–
	South African Party	69	+27
	Progressive Party	33	–17
	Independents	5	+5
Total		107	+12
Source: Smith pg.72

References

1. John Charrington Smith, Alan (1980). General Elections in the Cape Colony: 1898-1908 (PDF). University of Cape Town.
2. Smith, pg.69-70