(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)
| Tenure | Incumbent | Affiliation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tswanaland | |||
| 1968 to 1 April 1972 | Lucas Mangope, Chief Councillor | ||
| Bophuthatswana | |||
| 1 April 1972 to 1 June 1972 | Lucas Mangope, Chief Councillor | BNP | |
| Bophuthatswana (Self-Rule) | |||
| 1 June 1972 to 6 December 1977 | Lucas Mangope, Chief Minister | BNP, BDP | |
| Republic of Bophuthatswana (Independent) | |||
| 6 December 1977 to 13 March 1994 | Lucas Mangope, President | BDP, CDP | Forced to flee during the 1994 coup d'état |
| (10 February 1988) (Hours) | Rocky Malebane-Metsing, President | PPP, Mil | In rebellion |
| 13 March 1994 to 26 April 1994 | Tjaart Van der Walt + Job Mokgoro, Administrators | ||
| Bophuthatswana re-integrated into South Africa on 27 April 1994 | |||