<P> In 1960 a whites - only referendum was held to decide whether South Africa should become a republic . No changes were made to the franchise with the Republic's emergence in 1961 . However, with the policy of establishing Bantustans the remaining black representation in the Senate was completely removed . </P> <P> In 1983 a referendum on constitutional reform was held, as a result of which the Tricameral Parliament was formed, consisting of three separate houses to represent white, coloured and Indian South Africans . The existing House of Assembly was retained with its white electorate, while two new houses were created: the House of Representatives elected by coloured voters, and the House of Delegates elected by Indian voters . Elections to these houses were conducted on the basis of first - past - the - post voting in single - member electoral divisions . </P> <P> During the negotiations to end apartheid the Interim Constitution was enacted . It introduced universal suffrage on a non-racial basis, and replaced first - past - the - post voting with party - list proportional representation . South Africans of all races took part in the first fully democratic elections in 1994 . "Universal adult suffrage, a national common voters roll, regular elections and a multi-party system of democratic government" are founding principles of the 1996 Constitution of South Africa, and the right of all citizens to vote is included in the Bill of Rights . </P> <P> In the post-apartheid era the Constitutional Court has struck down two attempts by the government to deny the vote to convicted criminals in prison . The court has also ruled that South Africans living outside the country must be allowed to vote . </P>

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