SafekipediaPresident of South Africa
Adapted from Wikipedia · Adventurer experience
The president of South Africa is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of South Africa. This role leads the executive branch of the government and serves as the commander-in-chief of the South African National Defence Force.
The president is chosen by the National Assembly, which is the lower house of Parliament. The president is usually the leader of the largest political party. Since 1994, this party has been the African National Congress.
The Constitution says a president can serve only two five-year terms. The first president under this new system was Nelson Mandela. Today, the president is Cyril Ramaphosa.
To become president, a person must be a member of the National Assembly at the time of the election. After being elected, the president leaves their seat in the Assembly for the duration of their time in office.
Origins
The role of president in South Africa has changed over time. Before 1910, leaders in places like Natal, the Cape of Good Hope, Transvaal, and the Orange Free State were chosen by Britain or local Boer republics. In 1910, the Union of South Africa was created, with the British monarch as the official head of state, represented by a governor-general.
In 1961, after a vote, South Africa became a republic, and the role of State President was created. At first, this role was mostly ceremonial, but in 1984, it gained more power when the role of Prime Minister was removed. In 1994, after ending minority rule, the current role of president was set up by the country's constitution.
Electoral system
South Africa has a special way of choosing its president. The president is the leader of the country and the leader of the government. The president is also the top commander of the South African National Defence Force.
Unlike many other countries, the president is chosen by the Parliament of South Africa, not by everyday people voting.
After elections, the National Assembly, which is part of Parliament, picks the president from among its members. The chief justice watches over this choice. Once someone becomes president, they leave the National Assembly and start their new job within five days. If the president can no longer serve, a new election is called within 30 days.
This system mixes ideas from parliamentary and presidential styles, making it unique. Only a few other countries, like Botswana, do something similar. The president serves for five years and can be chosen for only two times.
Succession
The president of South Africa can only use their powers when they are inside the Republic of South Africa. If the president leaves the country or cannot do their job, they can choose someone to act as president for a short time, called an acting president.
If the president leaves office, the deputy president takes over first. If that is not possible, a minister from the Cabinet chosen by the president steps in. If needed, another Cabinet minister chosen by the Cabinet takes over. Lastly, the speaker of the National Assembly may become president.
Presidential powers
The president is the head of state, head of government, and commander-in-chief of the South African National Defence Force. The president has many important jobs. They choose leaders like Cabinet ministers and judges.
The president helps make laws by signing bills to become laws or sending them back for changes. The president can also call meetings of parliament and give important speeches, like the State of the Nation Address. As commander-in-chief, the president helps decide about safety and relationships with other countries.
Presidents of South Africa since 1994
Parties
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Elected | Term of office | Parliament | Political party | Government | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||||||
| 1 | Nelson Mandela (1918–2013) | 1994 | 10 May 1994 | 14 June 1999 | 5 years, 35 days | 22nd | ANC | Mandela (Reshuffle 1 · 2 · 3) ANC—NP—IFP | |
| The first post-apartheid president of South Africa. The first black chief executive of South Africa, and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election. His government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid through tackling institutionalised racism, poverty and inequality, and fostering racial reconciliation. Politically an African nationalist and democratic socialist, he served as President of the African National Congress (ANC) party from 1991 to 1997. | |||||||||
| 2 | Thabo Mbeki (born 1942) | 1999 2004 | 14 June 1999 | 21 May 2004 | 9 years, 102 days | 23rd | ANC | Mbeki I ANC—IFP | |
| 21 May 2004 | 24 September 2008 | 24th | Mbeki II (Reshuffle 1 · 2) | ||||||
| The second post-apartheid president of South Africa. On 20 September 2008, with about nine months left in his second term, Mbeki announced his resignation after being recalled by the National Executive Committee of the ANC, following a conclusion by judge C. R. Nicholson of improper interference in the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), including the prosecution of Jacob Zuma for corruption. On 12 January 2009, the Supreme Court of Appeal unanimously overturned judge Nicholson's judgment but the resignation stood. | |||||||||
| 3 | Kgalema Motlanthe (born 1949) | 2008 | 25 September 2008 | 9 May 2009 | 228 days | 24th | ANC | Motlanthe | |
| The third post-apartheid president of South Africa. He was elected following the resignation of Thabo Mbeki and briefly served before being succeeded by Jacob Zuma, who later appointed Motlanthe deputy president. | |||||||||
| 4 | Jacob Zuma (born 1942) | 2009 2014 | 9 May 2009 | 24 May 2014 | 8 years, 281 days | 25th | ANC | Zuma I (Reshuffle 1 · 2 · 3) | |
| 24 May 2014 | 14 February 2018 | 26th | Zuma II (Reshuffle 1 · 2 · 3) | ||||||
| The fourth post-apartheid president of South Africa. Presided over the centennial celebration of the ANC in 2015 as well as the death of Nelson Mandela in 2013. With less than a year before his term was to expire, Zuma resigned on 14 February 2018 following the demands of the ANC that Zuma should resign, or risk facing a successful vote of no confidence by the National Assembly. | |||||||||
| 5 | Cyril Ramaphosa (born 1952) | 2019 2024 | 15 February 2018 | 22 May 2019 | 8 years, 95 days | 26th | ANC | Ramaphosa I | |
| 22 May 2019 | 14 June 2024 | 27th | Ramaphosa II | ||||||
| 14 June 2024 | Incumbent | 28th | Ramaphosa III ANC—DA—IFP—PA | ||||||
| The fifth post-apartheid president of South Africa, elected following the resignation of Jacob Zuma. | |||||||||
Timeline
Lifespan timeline
The president of South Africa is the leader of the country and the head of the government. From 1961 to 1994, the leader was called the state president instead.
Latest election
Main article: 2024 South African presidential election
The latest election for the president of South Africa happened in 2024. This election helped choose the leader of the country and its government.
Related articles
This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on President of South Africa, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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