South Africa was barred from continuing as a member after it became a republic in 1961 , due to hostility from many members , particularly those in Africa and Asia as well as Canada , to its policy of racial apartheid . The South African government withdrew its application to remain in the organisation as a republic when it became clear at the 1961 Commonwealth Prime Ministers ' Conference that any such application would be rejected . South Africa was re-admitted to the Commonwealth in 1994 , following its first multiracial elections that year
1961 Commonwealth Prime Ministers ' Conference
1961 Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference
Commonwealth of Nations