Debates of the House of Assembly (Hansard) – First Session, Eighth Parliament, September 1984 by Republic of South Africa, House of Assembly

Debates of the House of Assembly (Hansard) for the First Session of the Eighth Parliament, September 1984, is the official record of proceedings published by the Government Printer in Cape Town for the Republic of South Africa.

This is a 91-page softcover issue covering the sittings of Tuesday 4 September and Tuesday 18 September 1984 and beyond.

Contents include the meeting of Parliament, the administering of the oath or affirmation to members, the designation of the electoral college for the election of a State President and a Speaker, and the welcoming of Mr Speaker.

This issue of the Debates of the House of Assembly also records the State President’s opening address and the appointment of committee chairmen.

The front matter lists State President P.W. Botha, the full Cabinet and Deputy Ministers, the Ministers’ Councils for White, Coloured and Indian Affairs, the office bearers of the House and the members with their constituencies and parties.

September 1984 marked the start of the Tricameral Parliament under the new constitution, and these Debates of the House of Assembly capture that moment in the government’s own words.

The ministerial lists give a clear snapshot of the structure of the period, including F.W. de Klerk as Minister of Home Affairs and of National Education, Pik Botha at Foreign Affairs and Magnus Malan at Defence.

Dr F. van Zyl Slabbert appears as Leader of the Official Opposition.

It will interest collectors of South African political history and apartheid-era ephemera, students and researchers of the Tricameral period, and anyone interested in the parliamentary history of the 1980s.

Condition – Good

A good copy of this 91-page softcover issue of the Debates of the House of Assembly. The front and back covers show dirt marks. The text pages inside are clean and the issue is complete.