Customs Conference
Supports customs discussions encouraging closer union among the colonies.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1908 in South Africa
Explore 21 historical events and records for South Africa in 1908.
Historical records for South Africa in 1908
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 21 of 21 unique records.
21Unique records
1 of 1Page
14Named events on this page
3Named people on this page
4Places on this page
May
Union Preparations
Helps build momentum for a national constitutional convention.
October
Constitution of South Africa
The constitutional convention represents 4 colonies, natives of South Africa excluded. Submits his scheme for a South African Union to the National Convention. Smuts calls for a constitutional convention. 1st day of the convention which determines the Government & constitition of South Africa
Convention
The convention represents the 4 colonies but natives of South Africa are excluded
Convention
Smuts calls for a constitutional convention
National Convention
Participates prominently in the National Convention on South African union.
Union Constitution Negotiations
Advocates political unification of the four self-governing colonies.
December
Constitution of South Africa
The Union of South Africa is born, the Afrikaners hold the key to political power, they forme the largest part of the electorate. Smuts & Botha take the constitution to London, where it is passed by Parliament, & signed into law by Edward VII
Unification
Smuts & Botha take the constitution to London, where it is passed by Parliament, & signed into law by Edward VII
Other events (month unknown)
Conference of Customs
Reinforces the foundation of the National Convention
Minister of Interior
Appointed Minister of the Interior
Minister of Mines
Appointed Minister of Mines
National Convention
Reinforces the foundation of the National Convention
National Convention
Submits his scheme for a South African Union to the National Convention
National Convention
Appointed President of the National Convention
National Convention Debates South African Union
Jan Smuts participated in the National Convention that designed the constitutional framework for a union of four South African colonies.
President of South Africa
Appointed President of the National Convention
Secretary of State for Defence
Appointed Minister of Defence
South Africa Party
To solidify their dominance of South African politics, the Afrikaners united to form the South Africa Party, a new pann Afrikaner party
Unification
Submits his scheme for a South African Union to the National Convention
Unification
Discusses the future of a united South Africa
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.