The South African National Party (NP) was a political party in South Africa, founded in 1914. It played a significant role in the establishment and maintenance of the system of apartheid, which enforced racial segregation and discrimination against non-white South Africans. The NP governed the country from 1948 until 1994, implementing policies that favored the white minority while oppressing the black majority. In 1994, following years of resistance and international pressure, the NP lost power in the first multiracial elections, leading to the end of apartheid. The party then transitioned into a smaller political entity, eventually dissolving in 2005. Key figures associated with the NP include Daniel François Malan, the first Prime Minister under apartheid, and P.W. Botha, who served as Prime Minister during the 1980s.