GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

Detailed explanation-1: -South Africa joined the Commonwealth as 51st member in May 1994. South Africa withdrew its membership from the Commonwealth in 1961 after it declared itself a Republic under the leadership of Prime Minister H.F Verwoerd . The country’s move followed a storm of criticism for its racial policies by Commonwealth members.

Detailed explanation-2: -Canadian prime minister John Diefenbaker proposed that South Africa only be re-admitted if it joined other states in condemning apartheid in principle. Once it became clear that South Africa’s membership would be rejected, Verwoerd withdrew his country’s application and left the conference.