Editing Basutoland (section)

===Self government===
From the creation of the Union of South Africa in 1910 the South African government made numerous overtures to take over the High Commission Territories, which included Basutoland.<ref name="Spence 1966 435–446">{{Cite journal |last=Spence |first=J. E. |date=1966 |title=Basutoland Comes to Independence |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/40393794?searchText=basutoland&searchUri=/action/doBasicSearch?Query=basutoland&so=rel&ab_segments=0/basic_search_gsv2/control&refreqid=fastly-default:1affc98c770961600dad017621915fcb&oauth_data=eyJlbWFpbCI6ImFuYW5kLnZhcmllckBlZHVjYXRpb24ubnN3Lmdvdi5hdSIsImluc3RpdHV0aW9uSWRzIjpbIjQ2MDhhN2M5LTNlMDAtNDg5Zi1hODZkLTA1NTMxMjYxNmQzNiJdLCJwcm92aWRlciI6Imdvb2dsZSJ9&seq=5 |journal=The World Today |volume=22 |issue=10 |pages=435–446 |issn=0043-9134}}</ref> However these demands were refused by Britain, wanting to consult with the inhabitants of the territories regarding their future. With the election of the National Party 1948 opposition to union with South Africa increased both amongst the Basuto and the British, due to the apartheid policies implemented by the new government. This hastened the progress towards independence. After WW2 progress towards self government and independence was slow due to opposition from local Basotho chiefs who feared losing their power and resistance from local colonial officials. In 1959 the Basutoland National Council, a body established in 1903, became a semi legislative body consisting of 80 members, half of whom were to be elected by the district councils. The others were tribal chiefs, nominated by the Paramount Chief and four officials. In the elections that followed the African nationalist [[Basutoland Congress Party]] achieved the overwhelming majority of elected seats.<ref name="Spence 1966 435–446"/>