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Reference.org
Union of South Africa
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<p>The Union of South Africa was the historical predecessor to the present-day <a href="/facts/South_Africa/vvXQpLgq">Republic of South Africa</a>. It came into existence on 31 May 1910 with the unification of the <a href="/facts/British_Cape_Colony/Pcov4AhT">Cape</a>, <a href="/facts/Colony_of_Natal/koILS8IP">Natal</a>, <a href="/facts/Transvaal_Colony/kC7eakJY">Transvaal</a>, and <a href="/facts/Orange_River_Colony/ksmCzucs">Orange River</a> colonies. It included the territories that were formerly part of the <a href="/facts/South_African_Republic/l5gWMsDw">South African Republic</a> and the <a href="/facts/Orange_Free_State/CGTADa7c">Orange Free State</a>. </p><p>Following <a href="/facts/World_War_I/vITTUanQ">World War I</a>, the Union of South Africa was a signatory of the <a href="/facts/Treaty_of_Versailles/BsNmjaqV">Treaty of Versailles</a> and became one of the <a href="/facts/Member_states_of_the_League_of_Nations/F8QcNEcq">founding members</a> of the <a href="/facts/League_of_Nations/PQlcKzXs">League of Nations</a>. It was <a href="/facts/League_of_Nations_mandate/CXCj7gno">mandated</a> by the League with the administration of <a href="/facts/South_West_Africa/xoeFfUSf">South West Africa</a> (now known as <a href="/facts/Namibia/ahXuaypy">Namibia</a>). South West Africa became treated in most respects as another province of the Union, but it never was formally annexed. </p><p>The Union of South Africa was a self-governing <a href="/facts/Dominion/uJGVYft4">dominion</a> of the <a href="/facts/British_Empire/hrsz0j7A">British Empire</a>. Its full sovereignty was confirmed with the <a href="/facts/Balfour_Declaration_of_1926/PunYSzXY">Balfour Declaration of 1926</a> and the <a href="/facts/Statute_of_Westminster_1931/DF01cDqL">Statute of Westminster 1931</a>. It was governed under a form of <a href="/facts/Constitutional_monarchy/C0TtVRq8">constitutional monarchy</a>, with the Crown being represented by a governor-general. The Union came to an end with the enactment of the <a href="/facts/South_African_Constitution_of_1961/yC5t1U68">constitution of 1961</a>, by which it became a <a href="/facts/Republic/vc8D2pA8">republic</a> and left the <a href="/facts/Commonwealth_of_Nations/TcIRQnNq">Commonwealth of Nations</a>. The <a href="/facts/Republic_of_South_Africa/vvXQpLgq">Republic of South Africa</a> rejoined the Commonwealth on 1 June 1994. </p>