President of South Africa explained

Post:President
Body:the
Republic of South Africa
Insignia:Seal of the President of South Africa.svg
Insigniasize:100
Insigniacaption:Presidential seal
Incumbent:Cyril Ramaphosa
Incumbentsince:15 February 2018
Style:Mr. President

His Excellency
Type:
Department:Government of South Africa
Member Of:Cabinet
Residence:Mahlamba Ndlopfu

Genadendal

Dr. John L. Dube House
Seat:Union Buildings
Appointer:National Assembly of South Africa
Termlength:Five years, renewable once
Constituting Instrument:Constitution of South Africa
Precursor:State President
First:Nelson Mandela
Deputy:Deputy President
Salary:R 3,900,000 annually (2019)[1]
Zu:Umongameli waseNingizimu Afrika
Xh:uMongameli waseMzantsi Afrika
Af:President van Suid-Afrika
Nso:Mopresidente wa Afrika Borwa
Ss:Moporesitente wa Aforika Borwa
St:Mopresident wa Afrika Borwa
Tn:Puresidente wa Afrika-Dzonga
Ts:uMengameli weleNingizimu Afrika
Ve:Muphuresidennde wa Afrika Tshipembe
Nr:uMongameli weSewula Afrika

The president of South Africa is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of South Africa. The president directs the executive branch of the government 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, the lower house of Parliament, and is usually the leader of the largest party, which has been the African National Congress 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.[2] The first president to be elected under the new constitution was Nelson Mandela. The incumbent is Cyril Ramaphosa, who was elected by the National Assembly 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 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. Alternating sovereignty as a result of wars culminated in the Treaty of Vereeniging which concluded the South African War.

The Union of South Africa, a British Dominion, was established on 31 May 1910[3] 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.[4] It was originally a ceremonial post, but became an executive post in 1984 when a new constitution abolished the post of Prime Minister 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 and head of government 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[5] 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, 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.[6]

The Constitution has thus prescribed a system combining both parliamentary and presidential systems in a unique manner. Only Botswana and a few other countries use a similar system. Between 1996 and 2003 Israel combined the two systems in an opposite way, with direct elections for the post of prime minister.[7]

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 occurred during Apartheid and as is the case currently in many other African countries.[8]

Succession

According to chapter five of the constitution, 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 travelling outside the country or unable to fulfill the duties of the office.

A 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.[9]

Presidential powers

The president is the head of state, head of government 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 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 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.[10]

Presidents of South Africa since 1994

Parties
PortraitName
ElectedTerm of officeParliamentPolitical partyGovernmentRefs
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
1Nelson Mandela
1994
1994

1999
22ndANCMandela
2Thabo Mbeki
1999
2004

1999

2004
23rdANCMbeki I
[11]
[12]
[13]
[14]
[15]
[16]
[17]

2004

2008
24thMbeki II
3Kgalema Motlanthe
2008
2008

2009
24thANCMotlanthe[18]
4Jacob Zuma
2009
2014

2009

2014
25thANCZuma I

2014

2018
26thZuma II
5Cyril Ramaphosa
2018
2019
2024

2018

2019
26thANCRamaphosa I

2019

2024
27thRamaphosa II

2024
Incumbent28thRamaphosa III

Latest election

See main article: 2024 South African presidential election.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ramaphosa's salary vs other world leaders. 15 March 2019 . businesstech.co.za . 22 March 2021.
  2. Web site: Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 - Chapter 5: The President and National Executive, 88. Term of office of President.
  3. Web site: General History of South Africa Timeline: 1910s.
  4. Web site: General History of South Africa Timeline: 1960s. 29 November 2014. 6 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141206040602/http://sahistory.co.za/topic/general-south-african-history-timeline-1960s. dead.
  5. Web site: Voting Completed to Elect New President . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131203011910/http://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/voting-completed-elect-new-president . 3 December 2013 . dmy-all .
  6. Web site: Chapter 5 - The President and National Executive . The Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory. 30 January 2016.
  7. Web site: Botswana . 29 April 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140429184550/http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/printplace/8/ . 29 April 2014 . dead .
  8. Web site: Elections in South Africa . 30 November 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924002757/http://www.etu.org.za/toolbox/docs/govern/elections.html . 24 September 2015 . dead .
  9. Web site: Succession planning for dummies . Daily Maverick . 14 December 2012 . 30 January 2016.
  10. Web site: Responsibilities of the President of South Africa.
  11. Web site: GCIS: profile information: Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki, Mr . 27 November 2007 . The Presidency . 14 October 2004 . GCIS . https://web.archive.org/web/20070416053536/http://www.info.gov.za/leaders/president/index.htm . 16 April 2007.
  12. News: Cabinet bids farewell to Mbeki . SABC news . 25 September 2008 . 25 September 2008 . His resignation came into effect at midnight. . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080929061212/http://www.sabcnews.com/politics/government/0,2172,177349,00.html . 29 September 2008 .
  13. News: SA's Mbeki says he will step down. BBC News . 20 September 2008. 21 September 2008 . London.
  14. Web site: Full Zuma Judgment. 13 September 2008. News24. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20081031201836/http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2392604,00.html. 31 October 2008. dmy-all.
  15. Web site: Judge Nicholson Red-carded by SCA. 12 January 2009. Mail&Guardian Online.
  16. Web site: National Director of Public Prosecutions v Zuma (573/08) [2009] ZASCA 1 (12 Jan 2009)]. 12 January 2009. South African Supreme Court of Appeal. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090320043142/http://www.mg.co.za/uploads/zumajudgement.pdf. 20 March 2009. dmy-all.
  17. Web site: Mbeki lashes out at lying politicians. 14 January 2009. IOL/The Star.
  18. News: Zuma sworn in as SA's fourth democratic President . SABC . 9 May 2009 . 9 May 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110529145530/http://196.35.74.238/portal/site/SABCNews/menuitem.5c4f8fe7ee929f602ea12ea1674daeb9/?vgnextoid=82f7f279f6421210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=default&channelPath=home . 29 May 2011 . dmy-all.