The prime minister of South Africa ( af, Eerste Minister van Suid-Afrika) was the
head of government in
South Africa between 1910 and 1984.
History of the office
The position of Prime Minister was established in 1910, when 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, Tra ...
was formed. He was appointed by the head of state—the
governor-general until 1961 and the
state president
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 ...
after South Africa became a republic in 1961. In practice, he was the leader of the majority party or coalition in the
House of Assembly. With few exceptions, the governor-general/state president was bound by convention to act on the prime minister's advice. Thus, the prime minister was the country's leading political figure and ''
de facto'' chief executive, with powers similar to those of his
British counterpart.
The first prime minister was
Louis Botha, a former
Boer
Boers ( ; af, Boere ()) are the descendants of the Dutch-speaking Free Burghers of the eastern Cape frontier in Southern Africa during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. From 1652 to 1795, the Dutch East India Company controlled this area ...
general and war hero during the
Second Boer War.
The position of Prime Minister was abolished in 1984, when the State President was given executive powers after a
new constitution was adopted — effectively merging the role of Prime Minister and State President. The last Prime Minister of South Africa,
P. W. Botha
Pieter Willem Botha, (; 12 January 1916 – 31 October 2006), commonly known as P. W. and af, Die Groot Krokodil (The Big Crocodile), was a South African politician. He served as the last prime minister of South Africa from 1978 to 1984 and ...
, became the first executive State President after the constitutional reform in 1984 after
Marais Viljoen
Marais Viljoen, (2 December 1915 – 4 January 2007) 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 ...
's retirement.
In post-apartheid South Africa, the
Inkatha Freedom Party
The Inkatha Freedom Party ( zu, IQembu leNkatha yeNkululeko, IFP) is a right-wing political party in South Africa. The party has been led by Velenkosini Hlabisa since the party's 2019 National General Conference. Mangosuthu Buthelezi founded ...
has called for a return to a Westminster-style split executive with a Prime Minister as head of government, which is part of its overarching goal of avoiding a single party South African state.
IFP: Statement by Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Inkatha Freedom Party Leader, welcomes Constitutional Court judgment on regulation of introduction of bills
12 October 2012
List of prime ministers of South Africa
;Parties
Timeline
See also
* 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 ...
* President of South Africa
* Governor-General of South Africa
The governor-general of the Union of South Africa ( af, Goewerneur-generaal van Unie van Suid-Afrika, nl, Goeverneur-generaal van de Unie van Zuid-Afrika) was the highest state official in the Union of South Africa between 31 May 1910 and 31 ...
References
External links
{{Prime Minister
1910 establishments in South Africa
1984 disestablishments in South Africa
South Africa, Prime Ministers
Government of South Africa
Lists of political office-holders in South Africa
South Africa and the Commonwealth of Nations
pt:Lista de chefes de estado e de governo da África do Sul