| 1 |
Nelson Rolihlahla MandelaNelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
(1918–) |
 |
10 May 1994 |
16 June 1999 |
1994The South African general election of 1994 was an election held in South Africa to mark the end of apartheid, therefore also the first held with universal adult suffrage. The election was conducted under the direction of the Independent Electoral Commission .Millions queued in lines over a three...
(
{{Use British English|date=May 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2011}}
{{Politics of South Africa}}
The President of the Republic of South AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
is the head of stateA head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
and head of governmentHead of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. In a parliamentary system, the head of government is often styled prime minister, chief minister, premier, etc...
under South Africa's ConstitutionThe Constitution of South Africa is the supreme law of the country of South Africa. It provides the legal foundation for the existence of the republic, sets out the rights and duties of its citizens, and defines the structure of the government. The current constitution, the country's fifth, was...
. From 1961 to 1994, the head of state was called the State PresidentState President, or Staatspresident in Afrikaans, was the title of South Africa's head of state from 1961 to 1994. The office was established when the country became a republic in 1961, and Queen Elizabeth II ceased to be head of state...
.
The President is elected by members of the National AssemblyThe National Assembly is the lower house of the Parliament of South Africa, located in Cape Town, Western Cape Province. It consists of no fewer than 350 and no more than 400 members...
, the lower house of ParliamentThe Parliament of South Africa is South Africa's legislature and under the country's current Constitution is composed of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces....
, and is usually the leader of the largest party, which has been the African National CongressThe African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
since the first non-racial elections were held on 27 April 1994. The role was originally founded to be distinct from the now defunct role of prime minister, but the two roles were merged in the 1983 constitution which specified a four-year term of office. The 1993 and later constitutions limits the president's time in office to two five-year terms. The first President to be elected under the new constitution was Nelson MandelaNelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
, and the incumbent president is Jacob ZumaJacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma is the President of South Africa, elected by parliament following his party's victory in the 2009 general election....
.
Under the interim Constitution (valid from 1994 to 1996), there was a Government of National UnityBetween April 27, 1994 and February 3, 1997 South Africa was governed under the terms of the interim Constitution of South Africa. Clause 88 of the interim Constitution required that any party holding twenty or more seats in the National Assembly could claim one or more cabinet portfolios and enter...
, in which an MP from the largest opposition party was entitled to a position as Deputy President. Along with Mbeki, the last State President, F.W. De KlerkFrederik Willem de Klerk , often known as F. W. de Klerk, is the former seventh and last State President of apartheid-era South Africa, serving from September 1989 to May 1994...
also served as Deputy President, in his capacity as the leader of the National PartyThe National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
which was the second-largest party in the new Parliament. But De Klerk later resigned and went into opposition with his party. A voluntary coalition government continues to exist under the new constitution (adopted in 1996), although there have been no appointments of opposition politicians to the post of deputy president.
Presidential powers
- Head of State and Government of the Republic of South Africa
- Leader of the Cabinet
- Appoints ministers and members to the Cabinet
- Awards and confers the National Orders of the State
- Commander-in-Chief of the South African National Defence Force
The South African National Defence Force is the armed forces of South Africa. The military as it exists today was created in 1994, following South Africa's first post-apartheid national elections and the adoption of a new constitution...
- Appoints the Chief Justice
The Chief Justice of South Africa is the head of the judiciary of South Africa, who exercises final authority over the functioning and management of all the courts...
, Deputy Chief JusticeThe Deputy Chief Justice of South Africa is a judge in the Constitutional Court of South Africa and the second-highest judicial post in the Republic of South Africa, after the Chief Justice...
, President and Deputy President of the Supreme Court of AppealThe Supreme Court of Appeal is an appellate court in South Africa; it is the highest appeal court except in constitutional matters, which are ultimately decided by the Constitutional Court...
.
- Must sign all acts of Parliament
- May declare war or peace
The President is referred to as: "Your Excellency", "Mr/Madam President" or "The Honourable (name)".
The official seat of the President are the Union BuildingsThe Union Buildings form the official seat of the South African government and also house the offices of the President of South Africa. The imposing buildings are located in Pretoria, atop Meintjieskop at the Northern end of Arcadia, close to historic Church Square and the Voortrekker Monument...
in PretoriaPretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
and the Tuynhuys in Cape TownCape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
. His living residences are Mahlamba NdlopfuMahlamba Ndlopfu is the Official Residence for the President of South Africa in Bryntirion, Pretoria.The house, formerly called Libertas, was designed by Architect Gerard Moerdijk in a traditional Cape Dutch style and completed in 1940 as the official residence for the Prime Minister of South...
in Pretoria and Genadendal in Cape Town.
List of Presidents of South Africa (1961–present)
{{legend2|#f2e0ce|National PartyThe National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend2|#ffffcc|African National CongressThe African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
| # |
Name
(Born–Died) |
Picture |
Took office |
Left office |
Elected
(Parliament) |
Political Party |
| State Presidents as Head of State (Ceremonial, 1961–1984) |
| 1 |
Charles Robberts SwartCharles Robberts Swart served as the last Governor-General of Union of South Africa from 1960 to 1961 and the first State President of the Republic of South Africa from 1961 to 1967.-Early life:...
(1894–1982) |
 |
31 May 1961 |
31 May 1967 |
— |
National PartyThe National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
|
| — |
Theophilus Ebenhaezer Dönges
(1898–1968) |
|
Elected but did not take office because of illness |
— |
National PartyThe National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
|
| — |
Jozua François Naudé Jozua François Naudé served as Acting State President of South Africa from 1967 to 1968.A National Party politician for many years, he served as Minister of Posts and Telegraphs from 1950 to 1954, as Minister of Health from 1954 to 1958, and as Minister of Finance from 1958 to 1961...
(1889–1969)
(Acting) |
|
1 June 1967 |
10 April 1968 |
— |
National PartyThe National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
|
| 2 |
Jacobus Johannes Fouché Jacobus Johannes Fouché served as the second President of South Africa from 1968 to 1975.Born in the Boer republic of the Orange Free State , Fouché was a successful farmer...
(1898–1980) |
|
10 April 1968 |
9 April 1975
(Died in office) |
— |
National PartyThe National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
|
| — |
Johannes de Klerk Johannes de Klerk was a South African politician, a member of the National Party, Senator , Minister of Work and Public Works , Work and Mines , Home Affairs, Work and Immigration , Home Affairs, Education and Arts and Sciences , Education, Arts and Sciences and Information and National...
(1903–1979)
(Acting) |
|
9 April 1975 |
19 April 1975 |
— |
National PartyThe National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
|
| 3 |
Nicolaas Johannes Diederichs Nicolaas Diederichs served as the third State President of South Africa from 1975 to 1978.An economist, Diederichs obtained a doctorate from the University of Leiden. During the 1930s and 1940s he became a prominent figure in Afrikaner nationalist circles...
(1903–1978) |
|
19 April 1975 |
21 August 1978
(Died in office) |
— |
National PartyThe National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
|
| — |
Marais ViljoenMarais Viljoen was the last ceremonial State President of South Africa from 4 June 1979 until 3 September 1984. Viljoen became the last of the ceremonial presidents of South Africa when he was succeeded in 1984 by an executive president, P. W. Botha.- Early life :Viljoen was the youngest of six...
(1915–2007)
(Acting) |
 |
21 August 1978 |
10 October 1978 |
— |
National PartyThe National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
|
| 4 |
Balthazar Johannes Vorster
(1915–1983) |
|
10 October 1978 |
4 June 1979
(Resigned) |
— |
National PartyThe National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
|
| 5 |
Marais ViljoenMarais Viljoen was the last ceremonial State President of South Africa from 4 June 1979 until 3 September 1984. Viljoen became the last of the ceremonial presidents of South Africa when he was succeeded in 1984 by an executive president, P. W. Botha.- Early life :Viljoen was the youngest of six...
(1915–2007) |
|
19 June 1979
Acting since 4 June 1979 |
3 September 1984 |
— |
National PartyThe National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
|
| State Presidents as Head of State and Government (Executive, 1984–1994) |
| 1 |
Pieter Willem Botha
(1916–2006) |
|
14 September 1984
Acting since 3 September 1984 |
15 August 1989
(Resigned) |
1987 The 1987 South African general election was held on 6 May 1987. The State of Emergency existing in South Africa at that time cast a cloud over the elections. It was once again won by the National Party under the leadership of P. W...
({{ordinal|20}}) |
National PartyThe National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
|
| — |
Chris Heunis Jan Christiaan Heunis was a South African Afrikaner lawyer, politician, member of the National Party and former minister in the governments of John Vorster and P.W. Botha....
(1927–2006)
(Acting) |
|
19 January 1989 |
15 March 1989 |
— |
National PartyThe National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
|
| 2 |
Frederik Willem de Klerk
(1936–) |
 |
20 September 1989
Acting since 15 August 1989 |
10 May 1994 |
1989The 1989 South African general election was South Africa's last national race-based parliamentary election. The election was called early to gauge support for the recently elected head of the National Party, Frederik Willem de Klerk and his program of reform, which was to...
({{ordinal|21}}) |
National PartyThe National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
|
| Presidents of post-Apartheid South Africa (also with executive powers, since 1994) |
| 1 |
Nelson Rolihlahla MandelaNelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
(1918–) |
|
10 May 1994 |
16 June 1999 |
1994The South African general election of 1994 was an election held in South Africa to mark the end of apartheid, therefore also the first held with universal adult suffrage. The election was conducted under the direction of the Independent Electoral Commission .Millions queued in lines over a three...
(
{{Use British English|date=May 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2011}}
{{Politics of South Africa}}
The President of the Republic of South AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
is the head of stateA head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
and head of governmentHead of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. In a parliamentary system, the head of government is often styled prime minister, chief minister, premier, etc...
under South Africa's ConstitutionThe Constitution of South Africa is the supreme law of the country of South Africa. It provides the legal foundation for the existence of the republic, sets out the rights and duties of its citizens, and defines the structure of the government. The current constitution, the country's fifth, was...
. From 1961 to 1994, the head of state was called the State PresidentState President, or Staatspresident in Afrikaans, was the title of South Africa's head of state from 1961 to 1994. The office was established when the country became a republic in 1961, and Queen Elizabeth II ceased to be head of state...
.
The President is elected by members of the National AssemblyThe National Assembly is the lower house of the Parliament of South Africa, located in Cape Town, Western Cape Province. It consists of no fewer than 350 and no more than 400 members...
, the lower house of ParliamentThe Parliament of South Africa is South Africa's legislature and under the country's current Constitution is composed of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces....
, and is usually the leader of the largest party, which has been the African National CongressThe African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
since the first non-racial elections were held on 27 April 1994. The role was originally founded to be distinct from the now defunct role of prime minister, but the two roles were merged in the 1983 constitution which specified a four-year term of office. The 1993 and later constitutions limits the president's time in office to two five-year terms. The first President to be elected under the new constitution was Nelson MandelaNelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
, and the incumbent president is Jacob ZumaJacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma is the President of South Africa, elected by parliament following his party's victory in the 2009 general election....
.
Under the interim Constitution (valid from 1994 to 1996), there was a Government of National UnityBetween April 27, 1994 and February 3, 1997 South Africa was governed under the terms of the interim Constitution of South Africa. Clause 88 of the interim Constitution required that any party holding twenty or more seats in the National Assembly could claim one or more cabinet portfolios and enter...
, in which an MP from the largest opposition party was entitled to a position as Deputy President. Along with Mbeki, the last State President, F.W. De KlerkFrederik Willem de Klerk , often known as F. W. de Klerk, is the former seventh and last State President of apartheid-era South Africa, serving from September 1989 to May 1994...
also served as Deputy President, in his capacity as the leader of the National PartyThe National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
which was the second-largest party in the new Parliament. But De Klerk later resigned and went into opposition with his party. A voluntary coalition government continues to exist under the new constitution (adopted in 1996), although there have been no appointments of opposition politicians to the post of deputy president.
Presidential powers
- Head of State and Government of the Republic of South Africa
- Leader of the Cabinet
- Appoints ministers and members to the Cabinet
- Awards and confers the National Orders of the State
- Commander-in-Chief of the South African National Defence Force
The South African National Defence Force is the armed forces of South Africa. The military as it exists today was created in 1994, following South Africa's first post-apartheid national elections and the adoption of a new constitution...
- Appoints the Chief Justice
The Chief Justice of South Africa is the head of the judiciary of South Africa, who exercises final authority over the functioning and management of all the courts...
, Deputy Chief JusticeThe Deputy Chief Justice of South Africa is a judge in the Constitutional Court of South Africa and the second-highest judicial post in the Republic of South Africa, after the Chief Justice...
, President and Deputy President of the Supreme Court of AppealThe Supreme Court of Appeal is an appellate court in South Africa; it is the highest appeal court except in constitutional matters, which are ultimately decided by the Constitutional Court...
.
- Must sign all acts of Parliament
- May declare war or peace
The President is referred to as: "Your Excellency", "Mr/Madam President" or "The Honourable (name)".
The official seat of the President are the Union BuildingsThe Union Buildings form the official seat of the South African government and also house the offices of the President of South Africa. The imposing buildings are located in Pretoria, atop Meintjieskop at the Northern end of Arcadia, close to historic Church Square and the Voortrekker Monument...
in PretoriaPretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
and the Tuynhuys in Cape TownCape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
. His living residences are Mahlamba NdlopfuMahlamba Ndlopfu is the Official Residence for the President of South Africa in Bryntirion, Pretoria.The house, formerly called Libertas, was designed by Architect Gerard Moerdijk in a traditional Cape Dutch style and completed in 1940 as the official residence for the Prime Minister of South...
in Pretoria and Genadendal in Cape Town.
List of Presidents of South Africa (1961–present)
{{legend2|#f2e0ce|National PartyThe National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend2|#ffffcc|African National CongressThe African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
| # |
Name
(Born–Died) |
Picture |
Took office |
Left office |
Elected
(Parliament) |
Political Party |
| State Presidents as Head of State (Ceremonial, 1961–1984) |
| 1 |
Charles Robberts SwartCharles Robberts Swart served as the last Governor-General of Union of South Africa from 1960 to 1961 and the first State President of the Republic of South Africa from 1961 to 1967.-Early life:...
(1894–1982) |
|
31 May 1961 |
31 May 1967 |
— |
National PartyThe National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
|
| — |
Theophilus Ebenhaezer Dönges
(1898–1968) |
|
Elected but did not take office because of illness |
— |
National PartyThe National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
|
| — |
Jozua François Naudé Jozua François Naudé served as Acting State President of South Africa from 1967 to 1968.A National Party politician for many years, he served as Minister of Posts and Telegraphs from 1950 to 1954, as Minister of Health from 1954 to 1958, and as Minister of Finance from 1958 to 1961...
(1889–1969)
(Acting) |
|
1 June 1967 |
10 April 1968 |
— |
National PartyThe National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
|
| 2 |
Jacobus Johannes Fouché Jacobus Johannes Fouché served as the second President of South Africa from 1968 to 1975.Born in the Boer republic of the Orange Free State , Fouché was a successful farmer...
(1898–1980) |
|
10 April 1968 |
9 April 1975
(Died in office) |
— |
National PartyThe National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
|
| — |
Johannes de Klerk Johannes de Klerk was a South African politician, a member of the National Party, Senator , Minister of Work and Public Works , Work and Mines , Home Affairs, Work and Immigration , Home Affairs, Education and Arts and Sciences , Education, Arts and Sciences and Information and National...
(1903–1979)
(Acting) |
|
9 April 1975 |
19 April 1975 |
— |
National PartyThe National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
|
| 3 |
Nicolaas Johannes Diederichs Nicolaas Diederichs served as the third State President of South Africa from 1975 to 1978.An economist, Diederichs obtained a doctorate from the University of Leiden. During the 1930s and 1940s he became a prominent figure in Afrikaner nationalist circles...
(1903–1978) |
|
19 April 1975 |
21 August 1978
(Died in office) |
— |
National PartyThe National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
|
| — |
Marais ViljoenMarais Viljoen was the last ceremonial State President of South Africa from 4 June 1979 until 3 September 1984. Viljoen became the last of the ceremonial presidents of South Africa when he was succeeded in 1984 by an executive president, P. W. Botha.- Early life :Viljoen was the youngest of six...
(1915–2007)
(Acting) |
|
21 August 1978 |
10 October 1978 |
— |
National PartyThe National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
|
| 4 |
Balthazar Johannes Vorster
(1915–1983) |
|
10 October 1978 |
4 June 1979
(Resigned) |
— |
National PartyThe National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
|
| 5 |
Marais ViljoenMarais Viljoen was the last ceremonial State President of South Africa from 4 June 1979 until 3 September 1984. Viljoen became the last of the ceremonial presidents of South Africa when he was succeeded in 1984 by an executive president, P. W. Botha.- Early life :Viljoen was the youngest of six...
(1915–2007) |
|
19 June 1979
Acting since 4 June 1979 |
3 September 1984 |
— |
National PartyThe National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
|
| State Presidents as Head of State and Government (Executive, 1984–1994) |
| 1 |
Pieter Willem Botha
(1916–2006) |
|
14 September 1984
Acting since 3 September 1984 |
15 August 1989
(Resigned) |
1987 The 1987 South African general election was held on 6 May 1987. The State of Emergency existing in South Africa at that time cast a cloud over the elections. It was once again won by the National Party under the leadership of P. W...
({{ordinal|20}}) |
National PartyThe National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
|
| — |
Chris Heunis Jan Christiaan Heunis was a South African Afrikaner lawyer, politician, member of the National Party and former minister in the governments of John Vorster and P.W. Botha....
(1927–2006)
(Acting) |
|
19 January 1989 |
15 March 1989 |
— |
National PartyThe National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
|
| 2 |
Frederik Willem de Klerk
(1936–) |
|
20 September 1989
Acting since 15 August 1989 |
10 May 1994 |
1989The 1989 South African general election was South Africa's last national race-based parliamentary election. The election was called early to gauge support for the recently elected head of the National Party, Frederik Willem de Klerk and his program of reform, which was to...
({{ordinal|21}}) |
National PartyThe National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
|
| Presidents of post-Apartheid South Africa (also with executive powers, since 1994) |
| 1 |
Nelson Rolihlahla MandelaNelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
(1918–) |
|
10 May 1994 |
16 June 1999 |
1994The South African general election of 1994 was an election held in South Africa to mark the end of apartheid, therefore also the first held with universal adult suffrage. The election was conducted under the direction of the Independent Electoral Commission .Millions queued in lines over a three...
({{ordinalThe 22nd Parliament of the Republic of South Africa was elected in the elections of 27 April 1994; it was the first parliament in South Africa's history to be elected by voters of all races. Nelson Mandela's African National Congress formed a government of national unity with F. W....
) |
African National CongressThe African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
|
| 2 |
Thabo Mvuyelwa MbekiThabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki is a South African politician who served two terms as the second post-apartheid President of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008. He is also the brother of Moeletsi Mbeki...
(1942–) |
 |
16 June 1999 |
24 September 2008
(Resigned) |
1999South Africa's second non-racial general election, held on 2 June 1999 was won by the African National Congress , who increased their number of seats by 14. Notable was the sharp decline of the New National Party, previously the National Party , who without former president F.W. de Klerk lost more...
({{ordinal|23}})
2004Legislative elections were held in South Africa on Wednesday, 14 April 2004. The African National Congress of President Thabo Mbeki, which came to power after the end of the apartheid system in 1994, was re-elected with an increased majority....
({{ordinalThe 24th South African Parliament was the third Parliament of South Africa to convene since the introduction of multiracial government in South Africa in 1994. It was elected in the April 14, 2004 general election, and was opened by re-elected president Thabo Mbeki's State of the Nation address in...
) |
African National CongressThe African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
|
| 3 |
Kgalema Petrus Motlanthe
(1949–) |
 |
25 September 2008 |
9 May 2009 |
— |
African National CongressThe African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
|
| 4 |
Jacob Gedleyihlekisa ZumaJacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma is the President of South Africa, elected by parliament following his party's victory in the 2009 general election....
(1942–) |
|
9 May 2009 |
Incumbent |
2009 South Africa held national and provincial elections to elect a new National Assembly as well as the provincial legislature in each province on 22 April 2009....
({{ordinalThe 25th South African Parliament is the fourth Parliament of South Africa to convene since the introduction of multiracial government in South Africa in 1994. It was elected in the general election of 22 April 2009, and first met on 6 May of that year to elect Jacob Zuma as the fourth President of...
) |
African National CongressThe African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
|
First Ladies
- 1961 – 1967 Nellie Swart
- 1968 – 1975 Aletta Fouché
- 1975 – 1978 Marga Diederichs
- 1978 – 1979 Tini Vorster
- 1979 – 1984 Dorothea Viljoen
- 1984 – 1989 Elize Botha
- 1989 – 1994 Marike de Klerk
Marike de Klerk was the First Lady of South Africa, as the wife of President Frederik Willem de Klerk, from 1989 to 1994, as well as a politician of the governing National Party in her own right.Mr FW de Klerk and Marike de Klerk divorced in 1998...
- 1994 – 1996 Winnie Madikizela-Mandela
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela is a South African politician who has held several government positions and headed the African National Congress Women's League. She is currently a member of the ANC's National Executive Committee...
- 1996 – 1998 First Daughter Zindzi Mandela-Hlongwane
- 1998 – 1999 Graça Machel
Graça Machel, DBE is a Mozambican politician and humanitarian. She is the third wife of former South African president Nelson Mandela and the widow of Mozambican president Samora Machel...
- 1999 – 2008 Zanele Mbeki
- 2008 – 2009 Mapula Motlanthe
- 2009–present Sizakele Zuma, Nompumelelo Ntuli Zuma (both Sizakele Zuma and Nompumelelo Ntuli Zuma have been referred to on the official Presidency of South Africa website as First Lady)
See also
- State President of South Africa
State President, or Staatspresident in Afrikaans, was the title of South Africa's head of state from 1961 to 1994. The office was established when the country became a republic in 1961, and Queen Elizabeth II ceased to be head of state...
- Prime Minister of South Africa
- Governor-General of the Union of South Africa
The Governor-General of the Union of South Africa was the representative of the British and later South African Crown in the Union of South Africa between 31 May 1910 and 31 May 1961...
- List of Presidents of the South African Republic (1857–1902)
- State President of the Orange Free State
- Freedom Day
Freedom Day is a South African public holiday celebrated on April 27. It celebrates freedom and commemorates the first post-apartheid elections held on that day in 1994...
External links
{{Commons category|Presidents of South Africa}}
{{South Africa topics}}
{{SAPresidents}}
{{Heads of state and government of African states}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:President Of South Africa}}
| |