State President
From 1961 to 1994, South Africa's head of state was called the State President or Staatspresident in Afrikaans.
The Afrikaner-dominated National Party had long sought to sever South Africa's links with the British monarchy and make the a republic. on October 5th 1960, Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd held referendum, in which South Africa's whites were asked: 'Do you support a republic for the Union [of South Africa]?'. The result was 52 per cent in favour of the change.
On May 31st 1961, the Republic of South Africa came into being, and Queen Elizabeth II ceased to be head of state. Charles Robberts Swart, the last Governor-General, was sworn in as the first State President, although this was a ceremonial post. Most State Presidents were retired National Party ministers, and consequently, white, Afrikaner, and male.
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 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.
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 May 11, 1994.
Republicanism
Executive Post
End of White Minority Rule
List of State Presidents
