State President of South Africa

title of the head of state of South Africa from May 1961 to May 1994

The state president of the Republic of South Africa (Afrikaans: Staatspresident) was the head of state of South Africa from 1961 to 1994. The office was created when the country became a republic in 1961. The office was abolished in 1994 when Nelson Mandela was democratically elected as the first President of South Africa.

State President of South Africa
Staatspresident van Suid-Afrika
Standard of the State President (1984–1994)
StyleThe Honourable (until 1985)
AppointerParliament of South Africa
Term lengthSeven years, nonrenewable (until 1984)
Duration of Parliament
(normally five years) (1984–94)
PrecursorGovernor-General of the Union of South Africa
Formation31 May 1961 (ceremonial)
3 September 1984 (executive)
First holderCharles Robberts Swart
Final holderFrederik Willem de Klerk
Abolished10 May 1994
SuccessionPresident of South Africa
DeputyVice State President of South Africa (1981–1984)
Parties

  National Party

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Political party Elected
Took office Left office Time in office
State presidents as head of state (Ceremonial, 1961–1984)
1   Charles Robberts Swart
(1894–1982)
31 May 1961 31 May 1967 6 years National Party 1961
  Theophilus Ebenhaezer Dönges
(1898–1968)
Elected but did not take office because of illness National Party 1967
2   Jacobus Johannes Fouché
(1898–1980)
10 April 1968 9 April 1975 6 years, 364 days National Party 1968
3   Nicolaas Johannes Diederichs
(1903–1978)
19 April 1975 21 August 1978
(Died in office)
3 years, 124 days National Party 1975
4   Balthazar Johannes Vorster
(1915–1983)
10 October 1978 4 June 1979
(Resigned)
237 days National Party 1978
5   Marais Viljoen
(1915–2007)
4 June 1979 19 June 1979 15 days National Party
19 June 1979 3 September 1984 5 years, 91 days 1979
State presidents as head of state and government (Executive, 1984–1994)
1   Pieter Willem Botha
(1916–2006)
3 September 1984 14 September 1984 11 days National Party
14 September 1984 15 August 1989
(Resigned)
4 years, 335 days 1984
2   Frederik Willem de Klerk
(1936–2021)
15 August 1989 20 September 1989 36 days National Party
20 September 1989 10 May 1994 4 years, 232 days 1989

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