First Jan Smuts government
.svg){kind=small} 3rd cabinet of Union of South Africa (since 1909 South Africa Act) |
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| 1920 | |
Jan Smuts (c. 1918)
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| Date formed | 20 March 1920 |
| Date dissolved | 8 February 1921 |
| People and organisations | |
| Head of state | King George V (represented by The Viscount Buxton, later Prince Arthur of Connaught) |
| Head of government | Jan Smuts |
| No. of ministers | 7 |
| Member party | South African Party |
| Status in legislature | Majority |
| Opposition party | National Party |
| Opposition leader | J. B. M. Hertzog |
| History | |
| Election(s) | 1920 |
| Legislature term(s) | 10 months and 19 days |
| Predecessor | Botha II |
| Successor | Smuts II |
Gen. Jan Smuts became Prime Minister, after Louis Botha's death in September 1919. The general election of 1920, with 41 elected to the lower house, the South African Party led by Jan Smuts was ahead of three seats in the National Party (44 seats). Both parties then found themselves forced to form alliances with third parties (unionists and labour) to form the new government. The South African Party was quick to form an alliance with the pro-British Unionist Party (25 seats) and Jan Smuts was reappointed prime minister. Shortly after in the same year, the Unionists agreed to join the South African Party and early general elections were held in February 1921.
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