<P> The Commonwealth was first officially formed in 1931 when the Statute of Westminster gave legal recognition to the sovereignty of dominions . Known as the `` British Commonwealth '' , the original members were the United Kingdom , Canada , Australia , New Zealand , South Africa , Irish Free State , and Newfoundland , although Australia and New Zealand did not adopt the statute until 1942 and 1947 respectively . In 1949 , the London Declaration was signed and marked the birth of the modern Commonwealth and the adoption of its present name . The newest member is Rwanda , which joined on 29 November 2009 . The most recent departure was the Maldives , which severed its connection with the Commonwealth on 13 October 2016 . </P>
<P> The Commonwealth was first officially formed in 1931 when the Statute of Westminster gave legal recognition to the sovereignty of dominions . Known as the `` British Commonwealth '' , the original members were the United Kingdom , Canada , Australia , New Zealand , South Africa , Irish Free State , and Newfoundland , although Australia and New Zealand did not adopt the statute until 1942 and 1947 respectively . In 1949 , the London Declaration was signed and marked the birth of the modern Commonwealth and the adoption of its present name . The newest member is Rwanda , which joined on 29 November 2009 . The most recent departure was the Maldives , which severed its connection with the Commonwealth on 13 October 2016 . </P>
when did south africa became a member of the commonwealth
when did south africa became a member of the commonwealth
1931
1931