President of South Africa

President of the
Republic of South Africa

Seal of the President of South Africa
Incumbent
Jacob Zuma
since 9 May 2009
Residence Mahlamba Ndlopfu (Bryntirion, Pretoria)
Genadendal (Cape Town)
Appointer National Assembly of South Africa
Term length 5 years
renewable once
Inaugural holder Charles Robberts Swart (State President)
Nelson Mandela (President)
Formation 31 May 1961 (State President)
10 May 1994 (President of South Africa)
Deputy Deputy President of South Africa
Website http://www.thepresidency.gov.za/
South Africa

This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
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The President of the Republic of South Africa is the head of state and head of government under South Africa's Constitution. From 1961 to 1994, the head of state was called the State President.

The President is elected by members of the National Assembly, the lower house of Parliament, and is usually the leader of the largest party, which has been the African National Congress 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.[1] The first President to be elected under the new constitution was Nelson Mandela, and the incumbent president is Jacob Zuma.

Under the interim Constitution (valid from 1994 to 1996), there was a Government of National Unity, 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 Klerk also served as Deputy President, in his capacity as the leader of the National Party 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.

Contents

Presidential powers

The President is referred to as: "Your Excellency", "Mr/Madam President" or "The Honourable (name)".

The official seat of the President are the Union Buildings in Pretoria and the Tuynhuys in Cape Town. His living residences are Mahlamba Ndlopfu in Pretoria and Genadendal in Cape Town.

List of Presidents of South Africa (1961–present)

      National Party       African National Congress

# Name
(Born–Died)		 Picture Took office Left office Elected
(Parliament)		 Political Party
State Presidents as Head of State (Ceremonial, 1961–1984)
1 Charles Robberts Swart
(1894–1982)		 31 May 1961 31 May 1967 — National Party
— Theophilus Ebenhaezer Dönges
(1898–1968)		 Elected but did not take office because of illness — National Party
— Jozua François Naudé
(1889–1969)
(Acting)		 1 June 1967 10 April 1968 — National Party
2 Jacobus Johannes Fouché
(1898–1980)		 10 April 1968 9 April 1975 — National Party
— Johannes de Klerk
(1903–1979)
(Acting)		 9 April 1975 19 April 1975 — National Party
3 Nicolaas Johannes Diederichs
(1903–1978)		 19 April 1975 21 August 1978
(Died in office)		 — National Party
— Marais Viljoen
(1915–2007)
(Acting)		 21 August 1978 10 October 1978 — National Party
4 Balthazar Johannes Vorster
(1915–1983)		 10 October 1978 4 June 1979
(Resigned)		 — National Party
5 Marais Viljoen
(1915–2007)		 19 June 1979
Acting since 4 June 1979		 3 September 1984 — National Party
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 (20th) National Party
— Chris Heunis
(1927–2006)
(Acting)		 19 January 1989 15 March 1989 — National Party
2 Frederik Willem de Klerk
(1936–)		 20 September 1989
Acting since 15 August 1989		 10 May 1994 1989 (21st) National Party
Presidents of post-Apartheid South Africa (also with executive powers, since 1994)
1 Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
(1918–)		 10 May 1994 16 June 1999 1994 (22nd) African National Congress
2 Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki
(1942–)		 16 June 1999 24 September 2008
(Resigned)		 1999 (23rd)
2004 (24th)		 African National Congress
3 Kgalema Petrus Motlanthe
(1949–)		 25 September 2008 9 May 2009[2] — African National Congress
4 Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma
(1942–)		 9 May 2009[2] Incumbent 2009 (25th) African National Congress

First Ladies

Timeline


Latest election

Main article: South African presidential election, 2009

See also

References

  1. ^ "Constitution, chapter 5: The President and National Executive, 88. Term of office of President". http://www.info.gov.za/documents/constitution/1996/96cons5.htm#88. 
  2. ^ a b "Zuma sworn in as SA’s fourth democratic President". SABC. 9 May 2009. http://196.35.74.238/portal/site/SABCNews/menuitem.5c4f8fe7ee929f602ea12ea1674daeb9/?vgnextoid=82f7f279f6421210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=default&channelPath=home. Retrieved 9 May 2009. 
  3. ^ http://blogs.thetimes.co.za/minor/?tag=gugu-mtshali
  4. ^ [1]
  5. ^ [2]

External links

Presidents of South Africa
1961 Constitution
(ceremonial)


1983 Constitution
(executive)
1996 Constitution
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