Founding of The Party
The party was founded on 9 May 1953 at a meeting of the South African Liberal Association in Cape Town (Paton 1968 p28). Essentially it grew out of a belief that the United Party was unable to achieve any real liberal progress in South Africa. Its establishment occurred during the "Coloured Vote" Constitutional Crisis of the 1950s, and the division of the Torch Commando on the matter of mixed membership.
Founding members of the party included (original positions in the party given):
- Margaret Ballinger (South African MP) - President of party
- Alan Paton (novelist) - Vice-President
- Leo Marquard - Vice President
- Dr Oscar Wolheim - National Chairperson
- Peter Brown - National Chairman
- Leslie Rubin (South African Senator) - Vice-Chairman
- H. Selby Msimang
Read more about this topic: Liberal Party Of South Africa
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