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 the Monarch of the United Kingdom and of the other Dominions/Commonwealth realms. The Monarch was represented in South Africa by a Governor-General. South Africa became a republic under the Constitution of 1961 and the Monarch and Governor-General were replaced by a ceremonial State President. In 1984, under the Tricameral Constitution, the State President gained executive powers, becoming head of both state and government. Since 1994, under the Interim Constitution and the current Constitution, the head of state and government has been called the President.

Monarchs (1910–1961) The succession to the throne of South Africa was the same as the succession to the British throne. During the Abdication Crisis the South African parliament passed its own act, "His Majesty King Edward the Eighth's Abdication Act, 1937", to ratify the abdication of Edward VIII.

PortraitNameReignRoyal HousePrime Minister Reign start Reign end Duration 1 King George V 1910 1936 Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Windsor BothaSmutsHertzog 2 King Edward VIII 1936 1936 Windsor Hertzog 3 King George VI 1936 1952 Windsor HertzogSmutsMalan 4 Queen Elizabeth II 1952 1961 Windsor MalanStrijdomVerwoerd

Governor-General The Governor-General was the representative of the monarch in South Africa and exercised most of the powers of the monarch. The Governor-General was appointed for an indefinite term, serving at the pleasure of the monarch. After the passage of the Statute of Westminster 1931 and the Status of the Union Act, 1934, the Governor-General was appointed solely on the advice of the Cabinet of South Africa without the involvement of the British government. In the event of a vacancy the Chief Justice served as Officer Administering the Government.

Status

PortraitNameTerm of officeMonarchPrime Minister Took office Left office Time in office 1 The Rt. Hon. The Viscount Gladstone 1910 1914 George V Botha 2 The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Buxton 1914 1920 George V BothaSmuts 3 HRH Prince Arthur of Connaught 1920 1924 George V Smuts 4 The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Athlone 1924 1931 George V SmutsHertzog 5 The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Clarendon 1931 1937 George VEdward VIIIGeorge VI Hertzog 6 Sir Patrick Duncan 1937 1943 George VI HertzogSmuts — Nicolaas Jacobus de Wet 1943 1946 George VI Smuts 7 Gideon Brand van Zyl 1946 1951 years George VI SmutsMalan 8 Ernest George Jansen 1951 1959 George VIElizabeth II MalanStrijdomVerwoerd — Lucas Cornelius Steyn 1959 1959 Elizabeth II Verwoerd 9 C. R. Swart 1959 1961 Elizabeth II Verwoerd — Lucas Cornelius Steyn 1961 1961 Elizabeth II Verwoerd

Ceremonial State President of South Africa (1961–1984) Under the 1961 Constitution, the first constitution of the Republic of South Africa, the State President replaced the Monarch as ceremonial head of state. The State President was elected by Parliament for a seven-year term. In the event of a vacancy the President of the Senate served as Acting State President.

Status

PortraitNameElectedTerm of officePolitical partyPrime Minister Took office Left office Time in office 10 C. R. Swart 1961 1961 1967 National Party VerwoerdVorster Eben Dönges 1967Did not take office because of illness National Party — Tom Naudé — 1967 1968 National Party Vorster 11 Jim Fouché 1968 1968 1975 National Party Vorster — Jan de Klerk — 1975 1975 National Party Vorster 12 Nico Diederichs 1975 1975 1978 National Party Vorster — Marais Viljoen — 1978 1978 National Party VorsterBotha 13 B. J. Vorster 1978 1978 1979 National Party Botha 14Marais Viljoen— 1979 1979National PartyBotha 1979 1979 1984

Executive State President of South Africa (1984–1994) Under the 1983 Constitution the State President was head of both state and government. The State President was elected by an electoral college chosen by Parliament and served until the next general election, but was eligible for re-election. In the event of a vacancy the Cabinet would nominate a member to serve as Acting State President.

Status

PortraitNameElectedTerm of officePolitical party Took office Left office Time in office 15P. W. Botha— 1984 1984National Party 1984 1984 1989 — Chris Heunis — 1989 1989 National Party 16F. W. de Klerk— 1989 1989National Party 1989 1989 1994

President of South Africa (1994–present) Under the Interim Constitution and the current Constitution the president of South Africa is head of both state and government. The president is elected by the National Assembly and serves a term that expires at the next general election; a president may serve a maximum of two terms. In the event of a vacancy the deputy president serves as acting president.

PortraitNameElectedTerm of officePolitical party Took office Left office Time in office 17 Nelson Mandela 1994 1994 1999 African National Congress 18 Thabo Mbeki 19992004 1999 2008 African National Congress — Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri — 2008 14 hours African National Congress 19 Kgalema Motlanthe 2008 2008 2009 African National Congress 20 Jacob Zuma 20092014 2009 African National Congress 21Cyril Ramaphosa— 2018 2018African National Congress 201820192024 2018 Incumbent

Timeline since 1961

Standards

References

World Statesmen – South Africa Rulers.org – South Africa