State President of South Africa

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State President of South Africa 1961-1994
File:Coat of Arms of South Africa (1932-2000).svg
Incumbent Office Abolished Position succeeded by the President of South Africa
Style	His Excellency
Appointer	Parliament of South Africa
Term length	5 Years
Inaugural holder	Charles Robberts Swart
Formation	31 May 1961 15 August 1989 (Executive Powers)
Deputy	Vice State President of South Africa (1981-1984)

State President, or Staatspresident in Afrikaans, was South Africa's head of state from 1961 to 1994. The office was established when the country became a republic in 1961, and Queen Elizabeth II ceased to be head of state. The position of Governor-General of the Union of South Africa was accordingly abolished.

Contents 1 Ceremonial post 2 Executive post 3 End of white minority rule 4 List of State Presidents 5 See also

Ceremonial post

The Republic of South Africa was proclaimed on 31 May 1961. Charles Robberts Swart, the last Governor-General, was sworn in as the first State President. Like Paul Kruger, and other presidents of Boer republics, the State President wore a sash with the Republic's coat of arms, but performed mainly ceremonial duties. The ruling National Party decided against having an executive presidency, instead adopting a minimalist approach, as a conciliatory gesture to English-speaking whites who were opposed to a republic. The President was elected by the Parliament. Like Governors-General before them, State Presidents were retired National Party ministers, and consequently, white, Afrikaner, and male.

Executive post

Following constitutional reforms, in 1984, the office of State President became an executive post, as in the United States, and the office of Prime Minister of South Africa was abolished. P. W. Botha became the new State President, until his resignation in 1989, when he was replaced by F. W. de Klerk, who oversaw the transition to majority rule in 1994.

End of white minority rule

Under South Africa's first non-racial Constitution, adopted in 1994, the head of state (and of government) was known simply as the President. Nelson Mandela, leader of the African National Congress, was sworn in as President on 11 May 1994.

List of State Presidents

#	Name	Picture	Life span	Took office	Left office	Political Party
State Presidents as head of state (Ceremonial, 1961-1984)
1	Charles Robberts Swart	File:CR Swart.jpg	1894 — 1982	31 May 1961	31 May 1967	National Party
-	Theophilus Ebenhaezer Dönges		1898 — 1968	Elected, but did not take office because of illness	-----	National Party
—	Jozua François Naudé (Acting)		1889 — 1969	1 June 1967	10 April 1968	National Party
2	Jacobus Johannes Fouché		1898 — 1980	10 April 1968	9 April 1975	National Party
—	Johannes de Klerk (Acting)		1903 — 1979	9 April 1975	19 April 1975	National Party
3	Nicolaas Diederichs		1903 — 1978	19 April 1975	21 August 1978 (died in office)	National Party
—	Marais Viljoen (Acting)		1915 — 2007	21 August 1978	10 October 1978	National Party
4	Balthazar Johannes Vorster		1915 — 1983	10 October 1978	4 June 1979 (resigned)	National Party
5	Marais Viljoen		1915 — 2007	19 June 1979 Acting since 4 June 1979	3 September 1984	National Party
State Presidents as Head of State and Government (Executive, 1984-1994)
1	Pieter Willem Botha		1916 — 2006	14 September 1984 Acting since 3 September 1984	15 August 1989 (resigned)	National Party
—	Chris Heunis (Acting)		1927 — 2006	19 January 1989	15 March 1989	National Party
2	Frederik Willem de Klerk	File:Frederik Willem de Klerk.jpg	1936 —	20 September 1989 Acting since 15 August 1989	10 May 1994	National Party

See also

• Governor-General of the Union of South Africa
• President of South Africa
• List of Prime Ministers of South Africa
• Vice State President of South Africaaf:Staatspresident van Suid-Afrika

de:Liste der Staatsoberhäupter von Südafrika fr:Présidents d'Afrique du Sud id:Presiden Afrika Selatan ja:南アフリカの大統領 pl:Prezydenci Republiki Południowej Afryki pt:Presidente de Estado da África do Sul