Leaders of the National Party

• Daniel Malan:

  • 1948-54
  • Initial implementation of apartheid through successive acts (largely practical)
• Johannes Strijdom:

  • 1954-58
  • Tougher apartheid, removed vote from coloureds (1955), and harsh action against anti-pass demos
• Hendrik Verwoerd (1958-66): Move towards idealist grand apartheid 'second phase', increase police and control to combat resistance, promised an all-white South Africa by 1978, and extend black reserves to black 'homelands’
• John Vorster (1966–78): Continued Verwoerd’s policies of Grand Apartheid with a bit of softening due to international pressure (improve relations fro trade and sport)