First Cabinet of Jan Smuts

Gen. Jan Smuts became Prime Minister, after Louis Botha's death in September 1919. In the general election of 1920, with 134 seats elected to the lower house, the South African Party led by Jan Smuts was ahead by three seats against the National Party (44 seats). Both parties then found themselves forced to form alliances with third parties (unionists and labour) to form the new government. The South African Party was quick to form an alliance with the pro-British Unionist Party (25 seats) and Jan Smuts was reappointed prime minister. Shortly after in the same year, the Unionists agreed to join the South African Party and early general elections were held in February 1921.

3rd Cabinet of Union of South Africa (since 1909 South Africa Act)
1920
Jan Smuts (c. 1918)
Date formed	20 March 1920 (1920-03-20)
Date dissolved	8 February 1921 (1921-02-08)
People and organisations
Head of state	King George V (represented by The Viscount Buxton, later Prince Arthur of Connaught)
Head of government	Jan Smuts
No. of ministers	7
Member party	South African Party
Status in legislature	Majority
Opposition party	National Party
Opposition leader	J. B. M. Hertzog
History
Election(s)	1920
Legislature term(s)	10 months and 19 days
Predecessor	Botha II
Successor	Smuts II