- State President of South Africa
State President, or "Staatspresident" in
Afrikaans , wasSouth Africa 'shead of state from1961 to1994 . The office was established when the country became arepublic in1961 , and Queen Elizabeth II ceased to behead of state . The position ofGovernor-General of the Union of South Africa was accordingly abolished.Ceremonial post
The Republic of South Africa was proclaimed on
May 31 1961 .Charles Robberts Swart , the last Governor-General, was sworn in as the first State President. LikePaul Kruger , and other presidents of Boer republics, the State President wore a sash with the Republic'scoat 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. 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 theUnited States , and the office ofPrime Minister of South Africa was abolished. P. W. Botha became the new State President, until his resignation in1989 , when he was replaced byF. W. de Klerk , who oversaw the transition to majority rule in1994 .End of white minority rule
Under South Africa's first non-racial
Constitution , adopted in1994 , the head of state (and of government) was known simply as the President.Nelson Mandela , leader of theAfrican National Congress , was sworn in as President onMay 11 ,1994 .List of State Presidents
Ceremonial:
*Charles Robberts Swart 1961 -1967
*T.E. Donges 1967 (Elected, but never inaugurated due to ill-health.)
*Jozua François Naudé (acting)1967 -1968
*Jacobus Johannes Fouché 1968 -1975
*Nicolaas Johannes Diederichs 1975 -1978
*Marais Viljoen (acting)1978
* Balthazar Johannes Vorster1978 -1979
*Marais Viljoen 1979 -1984 Executive:
*Pieter Willem Botha 1984 -1989
*Frederik Willem de Klerk 1989 -1994 ee 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 Africa
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