Second Cabinet of D. F. Malan

Malan retires
The Prime Minister announced his retirement to a "dumbfounded" cabinet on 12 October 1954 – it was thought to be linked to his health. The party favourite, E.H. Louw, was suggested by Die Burger to take over. But in the ensuing months, a race broke out between N.C. Havenga and Hans Strydom – who wanted to accelerate the "nationalist objectives".

On 30 November 1954, Johannes Strydom was announced as Daniël Malan's successor.