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State President, or Staatspresident in Afrikaans, was the title of 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.

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. The title 'State President' was originally used for the head of state the Boer Republics, and like them, the holder of the office wore a sash with the Republic's coat of arms. However, he performed mainly ceremonial duties, and was elected by members of the country's Parliament, not by popular vote.

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 appointed after 1948, 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	Took office	Left office	Elected (Parliament)	Political Party
State Presidents as Head of State (Ceremonial, 1961–1984)
1	Charles Robberts Swart (1894–1982)		31 May 1961	31 May 1967	—	National Party
—	Theophilus Ebenhaezer Dönges (1898–1968)		Elected but died before he could take office		—	National Party
—	Jozua François Naudé (1889–1969) (Acting)		1 June 1967	10 April 1968	—	National Party
2	Jacobus Johannes Fouché (1898–1980)		10 April 1968	9 April 1975 (Died in office)	—	National Party
—	Johannes de Klerk (1903–1979) (Acting)		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 (1915–2007) (Acting)		21 August 1978	10 October 1978	—	National Party
4	Balthazar Johannes Vorster (1915–1983)	File:B. J. Vorster.jpg	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)	1987 (20th)	National Party
—	Chris Heunis (1927–2006) (Acting)		19 January 1989	15 March 1989	—	National Party
2	Frederik Willem de Klerk (1936–)		20 September 1989 Acting since 15 August 1989	10 May 1994	1989 (21st)	National Party

See also

• Governor-General of the Union of South Africa
• President of South Africa
• Prime Minister of South Africa
• Vice State President of South Africa

References

1. Blazes Along a Diplomatic Trail: A Memoir of Four Posts in the Canadian Foreign Service (Trafford Publishing, 2000) page 58

External links

• State Presidents of South Africa
• Politics of South Africa
• Lists of office-holders by country
• Apartheid government
• South Africa-related lists