Politics of South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a unitary parliamentary democratic republic, a system where the President acts as both head of state and head of government. This president is elected by the National Assembly, the lower house of Parliament, and must maintain the Assembly's confidence to stay in office. Voters also elect provincial legislatures to govern each of the country's nine provinces. Since the end of apartheid in 1994, the African National Congress (ANC) has been the dominant political force, leading the national legislature and most provincial governments. However, the ANC’s electoral support has declined significantly in recent years. In the 2024 general election, the ANC 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) is the second-largest party and traditional main opposition, led by Geordin Hill-Lewis, who also serves as Mayor of Cape Town. The DA’s vote share has grown, reaching 21.81% in 2024, and it participates in the multi-party coalition Government of National Unity, holding several ministries. Other major parliamentary parties include uMkhonto we Sizwe (MKP), which serves as the Official Opposition, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP). The formerly dominant New National Party, which introduced and later ended apartheid through its predecessor the National Party, disbanded in 2005 to merge with the ANC. Nelson Mandela served as the first post-apartheid president from 1994 to 1999, followed by Thabo Mbeki, Kgalema Motlanthe, and Jacob Zuma, who resigned in February 2018 and was replaced by Cyril Ramaphosa. The most recent general election, held on 29 May 2024, resulted in a coalition government, the first since 1994. The ANC retained power through this coalition despite losing its majority. The next elections are the 2026 municipal elections, scheduled for 4 November. South Africa is a democracy with universal suffrage granted in 1994. Elections have been open and competitive, and living standards have improved across multiple metrics, though the country faces challenges as a multi-racial, young democracy. According to the V-Dem Institute, it is the joint-second-most electorally democratic and joint-third-most liberally democratic African nation, and the most democratic mainland African nation on both mea
- Government type
- Unitary parliamentary democratic republic
- Head of state and government
- President (elected by National Assembly)
- Ruling party (as of 2026)
- African National Congress (ANC) in coalition
- Largest opposition party
- Democratic Alliance (DA)
- Official opposition (2024)
- uMkhonto we Sizwe (MKP)
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 retain the Assembly’s confidence. Provincial legislatures govern each of the nine provinces. Since the end of apartheid in 1994, the African National Congress (ANC) has dominated national politics, though its share of the vote has declined significantly; in the 2024 general election, it received 40.18% of the vote, the first time it failed to win a parliamentary majority. The ANC remains the ruling party, led by President Cyril Ramaphosa, and formed a multi-party coalition Government of National Unity. The Democratic Alliance (DA), led by Geordin Hill-Lewis, is the second-largest party and a coalition member, holding various ministries. Other major parliamentary parties include uMkhonto we Sizwe (MKP), the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP). The formerly dominant New National Party, which introduced and ended apartheid through its predecessor, disbanded in 2005 to merge with the ANC. Universal suffrage was granted in 1994, and elections have since been open and competitive. South Africa is rated the most electorally and liberally democratic mainland African nation by the V-Dem Institute, though it faces challenges as a multi-racial, young democracy.
Reader's Guide
South Africa’s political system traces its origins to the Union of South Africa, formed in 1910 by uniting four British colonies under a Westminster-style governance model with a ceremonial British monarch, a Governor-General, and a Prime Minister wielding real power. The Balfour Declaration of 1926 and the Statute of Westminster in 1931 granted the Union full self-governing dominion status and legislative independence from the United Kingdom. In 1948, the National Party institutionalized apartheid, a system of racial segregation that disenfranchised the black majority and concentrated political power among whites, particularly Afrikaners. South Africa became a republic in 1961, replacing the British monarch with a president elected by a racially restricted electorate. The 1970 Homeland Citizens Act stripped many black South Africans of their citizenship, forcing them into nominally independent but internationally unrecognized Bantustans. The African National Congress led the anti-apartheid struggle, and after negotiations, apartheid was abolished, the Bantustans were reintegrated, and an interim constitution established a Government of National Unity. Since the first universal-suffrage elections in 1994, the ANC has dominated politics, though its vote share declined to 40.18% in the 2024 election, forcing the first coalition government since 1994. The Democratic Alliance, the traditional main opposition, joined this coalition. South Africa remains a functioning democracy with competitive elections, though it faces challenges as a multi-racial, young democracy.
Did You Know?
- The Democratic Alliance (DA) is led by Geordin Hill-Lewis, who also serves as Mayor of Cape Town.
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