The president of South Africa is the
head of state
A head of state (or chief of state) is the public persona who officially embodies a state Foakes, pp. 110–11 " he head of statebeing an embodiment of the State itself or representatitve of its international persona." in its unity and ...
and
head of government
The head of government is the highest or the second-highest official in the executive branch of a sovereign state, a federated state, or a self-governing colony, autonomous region, or other government who often presides over a cabinet, a ...
of the
Republic of South Africa. The president heads the executive branch of the
Government of South Africa and is the
commander-in-chief of the
South African National Defence Force. Between 1961 and 1994, the office of head of state was the
state presidency.
The president is elected by the
National Assembly
In politics, a national assembly is either a unicameral legislature, the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or both houses of a bicameral legislature together. In the English language it generally means "an assembly composed of the r ...
, the lower house of
Parliament
In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: representing the electorate, making laws, and overseeing the government via hearings and inquiries. Th ...
, and is usually the leader of the largest party, which has been the
African National Congress
The African National Congress (ANC) is a social-democratic political party in South Africa. A liberation movement known for its opposition to apartheid, it has governed the country since 1994, when the first post-apartheid election install ...
since the first multiracial election was held on 27 April 1994. The Constitution limits the president's time in office to two five-year terms.
The first president to be elected under the new constitution was
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (; ; 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African anti-apartheid activist who served as the first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the country's first black head of state and the ...
. The incumbent is
Cyril Ramaphosa, who was elected by the
National Assembly
In politics, a national assembly is either a unicameral legislature, the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or both houses of a bicameral legislature together. In the English language it generally means "an assembly composed of the r ...
on 15 February 2018 following the resignation of
Jacob Zuma.
Under the interim constitution (valid from 1994–96), there was a
Government of National Unity, in which a member of Parliament (MP) from the largest opposition party was entitled to a position as
deputy president. Along with Thabo Mbeki, the last
apartheid
Apartheid (, especially South African English: , ; , "aparthood") was a system of institutionalised racial segregation that existed in South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia) from 1948 to the early 1990s. Apartheid was ...
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 since.
The president is required to be a member of the National Assembly at the time of the election. Upon election, the president immediately resigns their seat for the duration of the presidential term. The president may be removed either by a
motion of no-confidence or an
impeachment trial.
Origins
A number of manifestations of the office of president have existed. Aspects of these offices exist within the presidency today. The executive leadership of the British colonies of
Natal and the
Cape of Good Hope were vested in their governors. Likewise, it was invested in the presidents of the Boer republics of the
Transvaal and the
Orange Free State
The Orange Free State ( nl, Oranje Vrijstaat; af, Oranje-Vrystaat;) was an independent Boer sovereign republic under British suzerainty in Southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century, which ceased to exist after it was defeat ...
. Alternating sovereignty as a result of wars culminated in the
Treaty of Vereeniging which concluded the
South African War.
The
Union of South Africa
The Union of South Africa ( nl, Unie van Zuid-Afrika; af, Unie van Suid-Afrika; ) was the historical predecessor to the present-day Republic of South Africa. It came into existence on 31 May 1910 with the unification of the Cape, Natal, Tr ...
, a British Dominion, was established on 31 May 1910 with the
British monarch as titular head of state, represented by a viceroy, the
governor-general.
Following the
1960 referendum and subsequent declaration of the Republic of South Africa on 31 May 1961, the office of
State President was created. It was originally a ceremonial post, but became an executive post in 1984 when a new
constitution
A constitution is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organisation or other type of entity and commonly determine how that entity is to be governed.
When these pr ...
abolished the post of
Prime Minister
A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is ...
and transferred its powers to the state president. The country ended minority rule in 1994. The office of the president, and the roles that come with it, were established by chapter five of the Constitution of South Africa.
Electoral system
South Africa has a distinctive system for the election of its president. Unlike other former British colonies and dominions who have adopted a parliamentary republican form of government and those that follow the
Westminster system, South Africa's president is both
head of state
A head of state (or chief of state) is the public persona who officially embodies a state Foakes, pp. 110–11 " he head of statebeing an embodiment of the State itself or representatitve of its international persona." in its unity and ...
and
head of government
The head of government is the highest or the second-highest official in the executive branch of a sovereign state, a federated state, or a self-governing colony, autonomous region, or other government who often presides over a cabinet, a ...
and commander-in-chief of the
South African National Defence Force (SANDF). Contrary to presidential systems around the world, the President of South Africa is elected by the
Parliament of South Africa rather than by the people directly. They are thus answerable to it in theory and able to influence legislation in practice as head of the majority party.
The president is elected at the first sitting of Parliament after an election, and whenever a vacancy arises. The President is elected by the
National Assembly
In politics, a national assembly is either a unicameral legislature, the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or both houses of a bicameral legislature together. In the English language it generally means "an assembly composed of the r ...
, the lower house of Parliament, from among its members. The
chief justice must oversee the election. Once elected, a person is no longer a member of the National Assembly. They must then be sworn in as president within five days of the election. Should a vacancy arise, the date of a new election must be set by the Chief Justice, but not more than 30 days after the vacancy occurs.
The Constitution has thus prescribed a system combining both parliamentary and presidential systems in a unique manner. Only
Botswana
Botswana (, ), officially the Republic of Botswana ( tn, Lefatshe la Botswana, label= Setswana, ), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Botswana is topographically flat, with approximately 70 percent of its territory being the Kal ...
and
a few other countries use a similar system. Between 1996 and 2003
Israel
Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...
combined the two systems in an opposite way, with
direct elections for the post of prime minister.
Although the Presidency is the key institution, it is hedged about with numerous checks and balances that prevent its total dominance over the government, as was the case in many African countries. The presidential term is five years, with a limit of two terms. Thus the electoral system attempts (at least on paper) to prevent the accumulation of power in the president as was during Apartheid or in many other African countries.
Succession
According to chapter five of the
constitution
A constitution is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organisation or other type of entity and commonly determine how that entity is to be governed.
When these pr ...
, the president can only exercise the powers of the presidential office while within the
Republic of South Africa. The president may appoint an
acting president when traveling outside the country or unable to fulfill the duties of the office.
The presidential vacancy should be filled first by the
deputy president, then a Cabinet Minister selected by the president, thereafter a Cabinet Minister selected by the Cabinet, and finally by the
speaker of the National Assembly.
Presidential powers
The President is the
head of state
A head of state (or chief of state) is the public persona who officially embodies a state Foakes, pp. 110–11 " he head of statebeing an embodiment of the State itself or representatitve of its international persona." in its unity and ...
,
head of government
The head of government is the highest or the second-highest official in the executive branch of a sovereign state, a federated state, or a self-governing colony, autonomous region, or other government who often presides over a cabinet, a ...
and
commander-in-chief of the
South African National Defence Force. The rights, responsibilities and remuneration of the president are enumerated in Chapter V of the
Constitution of South Africa
The Constitution of South Africa is the supreme law of the Republic of South Africa. It provides the legal foundation for the existence of the republic, it sets out the rights and duties of its citizens, and defines the structure of the Gov ...
and subsequent amendments and laws passed by the
Parliament of South Africa.
The executive powers of the Republic are vested in the President, who appoints various officials to positions listed in the Constitution, the most significant of which are the Cabinet Ministers and justices of the
Supreme Court of Appeal and the
Constitutional Court. The President's
Cabinet
Cabinet or The Cabinet may refer to:
Furniture
* Cabinetry, a box-shaped piece of furniture with doors and/or drawers
* Display cabinet, a piece of furniture with one or more transparent glass sheets or transparent polycarbonate sheets
* Filin ...
implements and enforces the Constitution and laws and carries out the President's political objectives. Judges are appointed on the advice of the
Judicial Service Commission.
The President plays a role in the formation of legislation. The President can sign bills into laws or veto legislation (subject to an override), refer bills back to Parliament or to the Constitutional Court, or call for a referendum. The President summons parliament, and often delivers a State of the Nation Address at the beginning of each session.
The President is the commander-in-chief of the
South African National Defence Force thereby possessing influence or control over foreign and security policy. The President is accorded the constitutional powers to declare war and make peace, negotiate and sign (although not ratify) treaties (and the alliances that may come with them), and receives and appoints diplomatic officials, confers honours and grants pardons.
Presidents of South Africa since 1994
;Parties
Timeline
Latest election
See also
*
List of heads of state of South Africa
This is a list of the heads of state of South Africa from the foundation of the Union of South Africa in 1910 to the present day.
From 1910 to 1961 the head of state under the South Africa Act 1909 was the Monarch, who was the same person as t ...
*
State President of South Africa
The State President of the Republic of South Africa ( af, Staatspresident) was the head of state of South Africa from 1961 to 1994. The office was established when the country became a republic on 31 May 1961, albeit, outside the Commonweal ...
*
Prime Minister of South Africa
*
Governor-General of the Union of South Africa
*
Deputy President of South Africa
*
State President of the South African Republic
This is a list of State Presidents of the South African Republic (Before 1866 nl, President van de Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek and after 1866 nl, Staatspresident der Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek).
The country was referred as the ''Transvaal R ...
(1857–1902)
*
State President of the Orange Free State
This is a list of State Presidents of the Orange Free State.
List
Last election
See also
* State President of the South African Republic
External links
Archontology.org: Orange Free State: Heads of State: 1854–1902
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sta ...
*
Freedom Day
*
List of South African Presidents by age
References
External links
Office of the Presidency
{{DEFAULTSORT:President Of South Africa
South Africa, President
Politics of South Africa
Presidents
1994 establishments in South Africa