Presidents of South Africa

Below are notable presidents of South Africa in chronological order, with the years each served and a brief summary.

Nicolaas Diederichs

Served: 1975–1978

Ceremonial State President who died in office in August 1978.

B. J. Vorster

Served: 1978–1979

Prime minister from 1966 to 1978, then State President until he resigned in June 1979 during the 'Muldergate' scandal.

Marais Viljoen

Served: 1979–1984

The last ceremonial State President; the office became executive in 1984.

P. W. Botha

Served: 1984–1989

First executive State President under the 1983 constitution; resigned in August 1989.

F. W. de Klerk

Served: 1989–1994

Released Nelson Mandela in 1990 and negotiated the end of apartheid; shared the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize with Mandela.

Nelson Mandela

Served: 1994–1999

First president elected in a fully democratic South Africa; sworn in on 10 May 1994.

Thabo Mbeki

Served: 1999–2008

Succeeded Mandela and resigned in September 2008 after his party asked him to step down.

Kgalema Motlanthe

Served: 2008–2009

Became president after Mbeki's resignation and served until the May 2009 elections.

Jacob Zuma

Served: 2009–2018

Resigned on 14 February 2018 amid party pressure and corruption allegations.

Cyril Ramaphosa

Served: 2018–present

Took office on 15 February 2018; re-elected after the 2019 and 2024 elections and leads a Government of National Unity.

Sources: Archontology.org, South Africa: Heads of State (1961–1994 and 1994–2025); Wikipedia, State President of South Africa (checked Nov 2026). Acting presidents who served only days are not listed.. Last reviewed November 2026.

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