Politics of South Africa

Lore & Background

The Republic of South Africa is a unitary parliamentary democratic republic. The president serves as both head of state and head of government, elected by the National Assembly, the lower house of Parliament, and must maintain the Assembly’s confidence to remain in office. Voters also elect provincial legislatures for each of the nine provinces. Since the end of apartheid in 1994, the African National Congress (ANC) has dominated national politics, currently led by President Cyril Ramaphosa. However, the ANC’s vote share has declined significantly; in the 2024 general election, it received 40.18% of the vote, marking the first time it failed to win a parliamentary majority in democratic South Africa. The Democratic Alliance (DA), led by Geordin Hill-Lewis, is the second-largest party and traditional opposition, securing 21.81% in 2024, and now participates in a multi-party Government of National Unity. Other major parliamentary parties include uMkhonto we Sizwe (MKP), the official opposition, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP). The formerly dominant New National Party (NNP), which introduced and ended apartheid through its predecessor, the National Party (NP), disbanded in 2005 to merge with the ANC. Nelson Mandela served as president from 1994 to 1999, followed by Thabo Mbeki (1999–2008), Kgalema Motlanthe (2008–2009), and Jacob Zuma (2009–2018), who resigned and was replaced by Ramaphosa. The most recent general election, held on 29 May 2024, produced the first coalition government since 1994, with the ANC retaining power through coalition partners. The next elections are the 2026 municipal elections, scheduled for 4 November. Universal suffrage was granted in 1994, and elections have since been open and competitive, with measurable improvements in citizens’ lives. South Africa is ranked by the V-Dem Institute as the joint-second-most electorally democratic African nation (alongside Mauritius and Cabo Verde) and the joint-third-most liberally democratic (alongside Cabo Verde), making it the most democratic mainland African country. The political system traces its roots to the 1910 Union of South Africa, which adopted a British-style parliamentary system with a ceremonial monarch and a prime minister. The 1926 Balfour Declaration and 1931 Statute of Westminster granted formal independence. Apartheid, institutionalized b

Reader's Guide

The politics of South Africa are shaped by its history as a British dominion and its transition from apartheid. From 1910, the Union of South Africa operated under a Westminster-style system, with a British monarch as ceremonial head of state and a Prime Minister holding real power. Full legislative independence came in 1931. In 1948, the National Party institutionalized apartheid, a system of racial segregation that disenfranchised the black majority and stripped many of their citizenship through the creation of quasi-independent Bantustans. The African National Congress led the resistance, and after negotiations, apartheid was abolished in 1994, establishing a unitary parliamentary democratic republic with universal suffrage. The president, elected by the National Assembly, serves as both head of state and government. Since 1994, the ANC has dominated, but its vote share declined to 40.18% in the 2024 election, forcing the first coalition government. The Democratic Alliance, the traditional opposition, joined this Government of National Unity. South Africa is rated a joint-second-most electorally democratic African nation by the V-Dem Institute, though challenges remain as a multi-racial, young democracy.

Did You Know?

• The Democratic Alliance is led by Geordin Hill-Lewis, who also serves as Mayor of Cape Town.
• The New National Party, which introduced and ended apartheid, disbanded in 2005 to merge with the ANC.