Who were Smuts and Hertzog, and what were their policies?

Smuts and Hertzog were South African politicians known for their contrasting policies on racial segregation and national unity.

Jan Christiaan Smuts and James Barry Munnik Hertzog were two influential figures in South African politics during the first half of the 20th century. Smuts, a philosopher, statesman, and military leader, served as the Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa from 1919 to 1924 and again from 1939 to 1948. Hertzog, on the other hand, was a lawyer and politician who served as the Prime Minister from 1924 to 1939.

Smuts was a proponent of racial segregation, but he also believed in the idea of a united South Africa. He was a key figure in the establishment of the League of Nations and the United Nations, reflecting his commitment to international cooperation and peace. Domestically, he introduced the Natives Land Act in 1913, which restricted black Africans from buying land outside of designated reserves. However, he also advocated for a more inclusive South African identity that transcended racial lines, a vision that was largely unfulfilled during his time in office.

Hertzog, in contrast, was a staunch advocate for Afrikaner nationalism and the preservation of Afrikaner culture. He was less interested in racial integration and more focused on the promotion of Afrikaner interests. His policies reflected this, with measures such as the Native Trust and Land Act of 1936, which further restricted black land ownership, and the Representation of Natives Act, which removed black Africans from the common voters' roll. Hertzog's tenure was marked by a hardening of racial segregation policies, setting the stage for the later implementation of apartheid.

In summary, while both Smuts and Hertzog played significant roles in shaping South Africa's political landscape, their policies reflected different visions for the country. Smuts sought a more inclusive, united South Africa within a global community, albeit within a framework of racial segregation. Hertzog, meanwhile, prioritised Afrikaner nationalism and the entrenchment of racial segregation.