When the Union of South Africa was formed in 1910, the electoral qualifications in use in each pre-existing colony were kept in place.

The franchise used in the Natal Colony, while theoretically not restricted by race, was significantly less liberal than that of the Cape, and no more than a few hundred non-white electors ever qualified.

From then on, the franchise was given to all white citizens aged 21 or over, which remained the case until the end of apartheid and the introduction of universal suffrage in 1994.

This was aided by the separation of its northern, more middle-class parts to form the Stamford Hill constituency in 1920.

Its final MP, J. G. Derbyshire, was affiliated with the federalist Natal Home Rule Party.