Rulers: South Africa
Ministries, etc.
Party abbreviations: ANC=African National Congress, IFP=Inkatha Freedom Party, Lab=Labour Party, NP=National Party, SACP=South African Communist Party, SAP=South African Party, UP=United Party
Vice state president
1 Jan 1981 - 14 Sep 1984 Alwyn Schlebusch NP (b. 1917 - d. 2008)
First deputy president
10 May 1994 - 16 Jun 1999 Thabo Mbeki ANC (b. 1942)
Second deputy president
10 May 1994 - 30 Jun 1996 Frederik W. de Klerk NP (b. 1936 - d. 2021)
Deputy presidents
17 Jun 1999 - 14 Jun 2005 Jacob Zuma ANC (b. 1942)
23 Jun 2005 - 24 Sep 2008 Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka (f) ANC (b. 1955)
25 Sep 2008 - 9 May 2009 Baleka Mbete (f) ANC (b. 1949)
11 May 2009 - 26 May 2014 Kgalema Motlanthe ANC (b. 1949)
26 May 2014 - 15 Feb 2018 Cyril Ramaphosa ANC (b. 1952)
27 Feb 2018 - 28 Feb 2023 David Mabuza ANC (b. 1960)
6 Mar 2023 - Paul Mashatile ANC (b. 1961)
International Relations
Ministers
- Foreign Affairs -
1927 - Jan 1955 the prime ministers
Jan 1955 - 9 Jan 1964 Eric Louw NP (b. 1890 - d. 1968)
9 Jan 1964 - 1 Apr 1977 Hilgard Muller NP (b. 1914 - d. 1985)
1 Apr 1977 - 11 May 1994 Roelof Botha NP (b. 1932 - d. 2018)
11 May 1994 - 17 Jun 1999 Alfred Nzo ANC (b. 1925 - d. 2000)
17 Jun 1999 - 11 May 2009 Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (f) ANC (b. 1949)
- International Relations -
11 May 2009 - 27 Feb 2018 Maite Nkoana-Mashabane (f) ANC (b. 1963)
27 Feb 2018 - 30 May 2019 Lindiwe Sisulu (f) ANC (b. 1954)
30 May 2019 - Naledi Pandor (f) ANC (b. 1953)
Defense
Ministers
1910 - 1920 Jan Smuts (1st time) 1911: SAP (b. 1870 - d. 1950)
1920 - 1924 Hendrik Mentz SAP (b. 1877 - d. 1938)
1924 - Mar 1933 Frederic Creswell Lab (b. 1866 - d. 1948)
Mar 1933 - Sep 1939 Oswald Pirow NP;
5 Dec 1934: UP (b. 1890 - d. 1959)
Sep 1939 - Jun 1948 Jan Smuts (2nd time) UP (s.a.)
Jun 1948 - 1959 F.C. Erasmus NP (b. 1896 - d. 1967)
1959 - 1966 Johannes Jacobus Fouché NP (b. 1898 - d. 1980)
1966 - 1980 Pieter Willem Botha NP (b. 1916 - d. 2006)
1980 - 1991 Magnus Malan -/NP (b. 1930 - d. 2011)
1991 - May 1992 Roelf Meyer NP (b. 1947)
May 1992 - 1 Apr 1993 Gene Louw NP (b. 1931 - d. 2015)
1 Apr 1993 - 11 May 1994 Kobie Coetsee NP (b. 1931 - d. 2000)
11 May 1994 - 17 Jun 1999 Joe Modise ANC (b. 1929 - d. 2001)
17 Jun 1999 - 24 Sep 2008 Mosiuoa Lekota ANC (b. 1948)
25 Sep 2008 - 11 May 2009 Charles Nqakula ANC (b. 1942)
11 May 2009 - 12 Jun 2012 Lindiwe Sisulu (f) ANC (b. 1954)
12 Jun 2012 - 5 Aug 2021 Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula (f) ANC (b. 1956)
5 Aug 2021 - Thandi Modise (f) ANC (b. 1959)
Home Affairs
Ministers
- Interior -
31 May 1910 - 25 Jun 1912 Jan Smuts 1911: SAP (b. 1870 - d. 1950)
25 Jun 1912 - 16 Nov 1913 Abraham Fischer SAP (b. 1850 - d. 1913)
16 Nov 1913 - 1 Feb 1916 vacant
1 Feb 1916 - 10 Mar 1921 Sir Thomas Watt SAP (b. 1857 - d. 1947)
10 Mar 1921 - 30 Jun 1924 Patrick Duncan SAP (b. 1870 - d. 1943)
30 Jun 1924 - 31 Mar 1933 Daniel F. Malan NP (b. 1874 - d. 1959)
31 Mar 1933 - 9 Dec 1936 Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr SAP;
5 Dec 1934: UP (b. 1894 - d. 1948)
9 Dec 1936 - 6 Sep 1939 Richard Stuttaford UP (b. 1870 - d. 1945)
6 Sep 1939 - 16 Aug 1943 Harry Gordon Lawrence
(1st time) UP (b. 1901 - d. 1973)
16 Aug 1943 - 16 Jan 1948 Charles Francis Clarkson UP (b. 1881 - d. 1959)
16 Jan 1948 - 4 Jun 1948 Harry Gordon Lawrence
(2nd time) UP (s.a.)
4 Jun 1948 - 23 Oct 1958 Theophilus Dönges NP (b. 1898 - d. 1968)
23 Oct 1958 - Jan 1961 Jozua François Naudé NP (b. 1889 - d. 1969)
1961 - 1966 Johannes de Klerk NP (b. 1903 - d. 1979)
1966 - 1968 Pieter Mattheus Kruger
Le Roux NP (b. 1904 - d. 1985)
1968 - May 1970 Lourens Muller NP (b. 1917 - d. 2005)
May 1970 - Nov 1970 Marais Viljoen NP (b. 1915 - d. 2007)
Nov 1970 - Jul 1972 Theo Gerdener NP (b. 1916 - d. 2013)
Jul 1972 - 1978 Connie Mulder NP (b. 1925 - d. 1988)
1978 - 1980 Alwyn Schlebusch NP (b. 1917 - d. 2008)
1980 - 1982 Chris Heunis NP (b. 1927 - d. 2006)
- Home Affairs -
1982 - 1985 Frederik W. de Klerk NP (b. 1936 - d. 2021)
1985 - 1989 Stoffel Botha NP (b. 1929 - d. 1998)
1989 - May 1992 Gene Louw NP (b. 1931 - d. 2015)
May 1992 - 1 Apr 1993 Louis Pienaar NP (b. 1926 - d. 2012)
1 Apr 1993 - 11 May 1994 Danie Schutte NP (b. 1947)
11 May 1994 - 28 Apr 2004 Mangosuthu Buthelezi IFP (b. 1928 - d. 2023)
28 Apr 2004 - 11 May 2009 Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula (f) ANC (b. 1956)
11 May 2009 - 2 Oct 2012 Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (f) ANC (b. 1949)
2 Oct 2012 - 26 May 2014 Naledi Pandor (f) ANC (b. 1953)
(acting to 4 Oct 2012)
26 May 2014 - 31 Mar 2017 Malusi Gigaba (1st time) ANC (b. 1971)
31 Mar 2017 - 17 Oct 2017 Hlengiwe Mkhize (f) ANC (b. 1952 - d. 2021)
17 Oct 2017 - 27 Feb 2018 Ayanda Dlodlo (f) ANC (b. 1962)
27 Feb 2018 - 13 Nov 2018 Malusi Gigaba (2nd time) ANC (s.a.)
13 Nov 2018 - 22 Nov 2018 Blade Nzimande (acting) SACP (b. 1958)
22 Nov 2018 - 30 May 2019 Siyabonga Cwele ANC (b. 1958)
30 May 2019 - Aaron Motsoaledi ANC (b. 1958)
Finance
Ministers
1910 - 1912 Henry Charles Hull 1911: SAP (b. 1860 - d. 1932)
1912 - 1915 Jan Smuts SAP (b. 1870 - d. 1950)
24 Feb 1915 - 1916 Sir David Pieter de Villiers
Graaff SAP (b. 1859 - d. 1931)
1916 - 1917 Henry Burton (1st time) SAP (b. 1866 - d. 1935)
1917 - 1920 Thomas Orr SAP (b. 1857 - d. 1937)
1920 - 1924 Henry Burton (2nd time) SAP (s.a.)
1924 - 1939 Nicolaas Christiaan Havenga
(1st time) NP; 5 Dec 1934: UP (b. 1882 - d. 1957)
1939 - Jan 1948 Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr UP (b. 1894 - d. 1948)
Jan 1948 - Jun 1948 Claud Sturrock UP (b. 1882 - d. 1958)
Jun 1948 - 1954 Nicolaas Christiaan Havenga
(2nd time) NP (s.a.)
1954 - 1956 Eric Louw NP (b. 1890 - d. 1968)
1956 - 1958 Jozua François Naudé NP (b. 1889 - d. 1969)
1958 - 1967 Theophilus Dönges NP (b. 1898 - d. 1968)
1967 - 1975 Nicolaas J. Diederichs NP (b. 1903 - d. 1978)
1975 - 1984 Owen Horwood NP (b. 1916 - d. 1998)
1984 - May 1992 Barend du Plessis NP (b. 1940)
May 1992 - 19 Sep 1994 Derek Keys NP (b. 1931 - d. 2018)
19 Sep 1994 - 4 Apr 1996 Chris Liebenberg - (b. 1934)
4 Apr 1996 - 11 May 2009 Trevor Manuel ANC (b. 1956)
11 May 2009 - 26 May 2014 Pravin Gordhan (1st time) ANC (b. 1949)
26 May 2014 - 10 Dec 2015 Nhlanhla Nene (1st time) ANC (b. 1958)
10 Dec 2015 - 13 Dec 2015 David van Rooyen ANC (b. 1968)
13 Dec 2015 - 31 Mar 2017 Pravin Gordhan (2nd time) ANC (s.a.)
31 Mar 2017 - 27 Feb 2018 Malusi Gigaba ANC (b. 1971)
27 Feb 2018 - 9 Oct 2018 Nhlanhla Nene (2nd time) ANC (s.a.)
9 Oct 2018 - 5 Aug 2021 Tito Mboweni ANC (b. 1959)
5 Aug 2021 - Enoch Godongwana ANC (b. 1957)
Justice
Ministers
1910 - 1912 J.B.M. Hertzog 1911: SAP (b. 1866 - d. 1942)
1912 - 24 Jul 1913 Jacobus Wilhelmus Sauer SAP (b. 1850 - d. 1913)
Sep 1913 - 1924 Nicolaas Jacobus de Wet SAP (b. 1873 - d. 1960)
1924 - 1929 Tielman Johannes de Villiers
Roos NP (b. 1879 - d. 1935)
1929 - Mar 1933 Oswald Pirow NP (b. 1890 - d. 1959)
Mar 1933 - Sep 1939 Jan Smuts SAP; 5 Dec 1934: UP (b. 1870 - d. 1950)
Sep 1939 - 1945 Colin Fraser Steyn UP (b. 1887 - d. 1959)
1945 - Jun 1948 Harry Gordon Lawrence UP (b. 1901 - d. 1973)
Jun 1948 - 1959 Charles Robberts Swart NP (b. 1894 - d. 1982)
1959 - Aug 1961 F.C. Erasmus NP (b. 1896 - d. 1967)
Aug 1961 - Oct 1966 B.J. Vorster NP (b. 1915 - d. 1983)
Oct 1966 - Apr 1974 Petrus Cornelius Pelser NP (b. 1907 - d. 1974)
Apr 1974 - 1979 Jimmy Kruger NP (b. 1917 - d. 1987)
1979 - 1980 Alwyn Schlebusch NP (b. 1917 - d. 2008)
1980 - 11 May 1994 Kobie Coetsee NP (b. 1931 - d. 2000)
11 May 1994 - 17 Jun 1999 Dullah Omar ANC (b. 1934 - d. 2004)
17 Jun 1999 - 28 Apr 2004 Penuell Maduna ANC (b. 1952)
28 Apr 2004 - 25 Sep 2008 Brigitte Mabandla (f) ANC (b. 1948)
25 Sep 2008 - 11 May 2009 Enver Surty ANC (b. 1953)
11 May 2009 - 26 May 2014 Jeff Radebe ANC (b. 1953)
26 May 2014 - 30 May 2019 Michael Masutha ANC (b. 1965)
30 May 2019 - Ronald Lamola ANC (b. 1983)
Parliament
National Council of Provinces
1910 Senate
1 Jan 1981 abolished
1994 Senate
1997 National Council of Provinces
Presidents
1 Nov 1910 - 10 Mar 1921 Francis William Reitz (b. 1844 - d. 1934)
11 Mar 1921 - 30 Jun 1929 Hercules Christian van Heerden (b. 1862 - d. 1933)
19 Jul 1929 - 16 Jan 1930 Robert Ashford Kerr (b. 1870 - d. 19...)
17 Jan 1930 - 18 Jan 1940 Christiaan Andries van Niekerk
(1st time) (b. 1874 - d. 1966)
19 Jan 1940 - 31 Dec 1941 François Stephanus Malan (b. 1871 - d. 1941)
12 Jan 1942 - 31 Dec 1945 Philippus Arnoldus Myburgh (b. 1880 - d. 1946)
18 Jan 1946 - 5 Aug 1948 Pieter Jurie Wessels (b. 1878 - d. 1958)
6 Aug 1948 - 19 Jan 1961 Christiaan Andries van Niekerk
(2nd time) (s.a.)
20 Jan 1961 - 31 May 1969 Jozua François Naudé (b. 1889 - d. 1969)
6 Jun 1969 - Jan 1976 Johannes de Klerk (b. 1903 - d. 1979)
23 Jan 1976 - 18 Jun 1979 Marais Viljoen (b. 1915 - d. 2007)
19 Jun 1979 - 31 Dec 1980 Jimmy Kruger (b. 1917 - d. 1987)
20 May 1994 - 4 Feb 1997 Kobie Coetsee (b. 1931 - d. 2000)
Chairmen
6 Feb 1997 - 21 Jun 1999 Mosiuoa Lekota (b. 1948)
21 Jun 1999 - 4 May 2004 Naledi Pandor (f) (b. 1953)
4 May 2004 - 21 Nov 2004 Joyce Kgoali (f) (b. 1950 - d. 2004)
21 Nov 2004 - 22 May 2014 Mninwa Johannes Mahlangu (b. 1952)
(acting to 17 Jan 2005)
22 May 2014 - 22 May 2019 Thandi Modise (f) (b. 1959)
23 May 2019 - Amos Masondo (b. 1953)
National Assembly
1910 House of Assembly
1994 National Assembly
Speakers
1 Nov 1910 - 18 Nov 1915 James Tennant Molteno (from 8 Jul
1911, Sir James Tennant Molteno) (b. 1865 - d. 1936)
19 Nov 1915 - 24 Jul 1924 Joel Krige (b. 1866 - d. 1933)
25 Jul 1924 - 19 Jun 1929 Ernest George Jansen (1st time) (b. 1881 - d. 1959)
19 Jul 1929 - 25 May 1933 Jan Hendrick Hofmeyr de Waal (b. 1871 - d. 1937)
26 May 1933 - 21 Jan 1944 Ernest George Jansen (2nd time) (s.a.)
22 Jan 1944 - 5 Aug 1948 Clifford Meyer van Coller (b. 1876 - d. 1977)
6 Aug 1948 - 7 Nov 1950 Jozua François Naudé (b. 1889 - d. 1969)
19 Jan 1951 - 31 Dec 1960 Johannes Conradie (b. 1897 - d. 1966)
20 Jan 1961 - 1 Aug 1974 Henning Johannes Klopper (b. 1895 - d. 1985)
2 Aug 1974 - 25 Jan 1976 Alwyn Schlebusch (b. 1917 - d. 2008)
26 Jan 1976 - 30 Jul 1981 Jannie Loots (b. 1914 - d. 1998)
31 Jul 1981 - 13 Feb 1983 J.P. du Toit
14 Feb 1983 - 31 Dec 1986 Johan Greeff (b. 1921 - d. 2004)
1 Jan 1987 - 26 Oct 1991 Louis le Grange (b. 1928 - d. 1991)
14 Nov 1991 - 26 Apr 1994 Eli Louw (b. 1927 - d. 2016)
9 May 1994 - 23 Apr 2004 Frene Ginwala (f) (b. 1932 - d. 2023)
23 Apr 2004 - 25 Sep 2008 Baleka Mbete (f) (1st time) (b. 1949)
25 Sep 2008 - 6 May 2009 Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde (f) (b. 1955)
6 May 2009 - 21 May 2014 Max Sisulu (b. 1945)
21 May 2014 - 22 May 2019 Baleka Mbete (f) (2nd time) (s.a.)
22 May 2019 - 5 Aug 2021 Thandi Modise (f) (b. 1959)
19 Aug 2021 - 3 Apr 2024 Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula (f) (b. 1956)
3 Apr 2024 - Lechesa Tsenoli (acting)
Political parties
African National Congress
1912 South African Native National Congress founded
1923 renamed African National Congress
Presidents-general
1912 - 1917 John Langalibalele Dube (b. 1871 - d. 1946)
1917 - 1924 Sefako Mapogo Makgatho (b. 1861 - d. 1951)
1924 - 1927 Zaccheus R. Mahabane (1st time) (b. 1881 - d. 1970)
1927 - 1930 Josiah Tshangana Gumede (b. 1870 - d. 1947)
1930 - 1936 Pixley ka Isaka Seme (b. 1882 - d. 1951)
1937 - 1940 Zaccheus R. Mahabane (2nd time) (s.a.)
1940 - Dec 1949 Alfred Bitini Xuma (b. 1890 - d. 1962)
Dec 1949 - 16 Dec 1952 James Moroka (b. 1891 - d. 1985)
16 Dec 1952 - 21 Jul 1967 Albert Luthuli (b. 1898 - d. 1967)
21 Jul 1967 - 5 Jul 1991 Oliver Tambo (acting to 1969) (b. 1917 - d. 1993)
5 Jul 1991 - 17 Dec 1997 Nelson Mandela (b. 1918 - d. 2013)
17 Dec 1997 - 18 Dec 2007 Thabo Mbeki (b. 1942)
18 Dec 2007 - 18 Dec 2017 Jacob Zuma (b. 1942)
18 Dec 2017 - Cyril Ramaphosa (b. 1952)
Secretaries-general
1912 - 1917 Sol Plaatje (b. 1876 - d. 1932)
1917 - 1919 Isaiah Bud-M'belle (b. 1870 - d. 1947)
1919 - 1923 Saul Msane (b. c.1856 - d. c.1932)
1923 - 1927 T.D. Mweli Skota (b. 1890 - d. 1976)
1927 - 1930 E.J. Khaile
1930 - 1936 Elijah Mdolomba
1936 - 1949 James Calata (b. 1895 - d. 1983)
1949 - 1955 Walter Sisulu (b. 1912 - d. 2003)
1955 - 1958 Oliver Tambo (s.a.)
1958 - 1969 Duma Nokwe (b. 1927 - d. 1978)
1969 - 5 Jul 1991 Alfred Nzo (b. 1925 - d. 2000)
5 Jul 1991 - 17 Dec 1997 Cyril Ramaphosa (s.a.)
17 Dec 1997 - 18 Dec 2007 Kgalema Motlanthe (b. 1949)
18 Dec 2007 - 18 Dec 2017 Gwede Mantashe (b. 1955)
18 Dec 2017 - 19 Dec 2022 Ace Magashule (b. 1959)
3 May 2021 - 17 Jul 2022 Jessie Duarte (f) (b. 1953 - d. 2022)
(acting for suspended Magashule)
18 Jan 2022 - 19 Dec 2022 Paul Mashatile (b. 1961)
(acting for suspended Magashule
[assisting Duarte to 17 Jul 2022])
19 Dec 2022 - Fikile Mbalula (b. 1971)
New National Party
1914 National Party founded (in English often Nationalist Party)
5 Dec 1934 united with South African Party to form United Party
1939 Reunited National Party or People's Party founded
(again commonly Nationalist Party)
1951 united with Afrikaner Party to form National Party
Dec 1998 renamed New National Party
1 Mar 2006 dissolved
Leaders
1914 - 5 Dec 1934 J.B.M. Hertzog (1st time) (b. 1866 - d. 1942)
1939 - 12 Dec 1940 J.B.M. Hertzog (2nd time) (s.a.)
12 Dec 1940 - 30 Nov 1954 Daniel F. Malan (b. 1874 - d. 1959)
30 Nov 1954 - 24 Aug 1958 Johannes G. Strijdom (b. 1893 - d. 1958)
2 Sep 1958 - 6 Sep 1966 Hendrik F. Verwoerd (b. 1901 - d. 1966)
13 Sep 1966 - 28 Sep 1978 B.J. Vorster (b. 1915 - d. 1983)
28 Sep 1978 - 2 Feb 1989 Pieter Willem Botha (b. 1916 - d. 2006)
2 Feb 1989 - 9 Sep 1997 Frederik W. de Klerk (b. 1936 - d. 2021)
9 Sep 1997 - 1 Mar 2006 Marthinus van Schalkwyk (b. 1959)
United Party
1911 South African Party established
5 Dec 1934 South African Party and Nationalist Party merge as United Party
28 Jun 1977 dissolved
Leaders
1911 - 27 Aug 1919 Louis Botha (b. 1862 - d. 1919)
1919 - 5 Dec 1934 Jan Smuts (b. 1870 - d. 1950)
5 Dec 1934 - 5 Sep 1939 J.B.M. Hertzog (b. 1866 - d. 1942)
5 Sep 1939 - 11 Sep 1950 Jan Smuts (s.a.)
22 Nov 1950 - 21 Nov 1956 J.G.N. Strauss (b. 1900 - d. 1990)
21 Nov 1956 - 28 Jun 1977 Sir De Villiers Graaff (b. 1913 - d. 1999)
Democratic Alliance
4 Feb 1989 Democratic Party formed by merger of Progressive Federal Party,
National Democratic Movement, and Independent Party
24 Jun 2000 Democratic Alliance
Leaders
4 Feb 1989 - 9 Sep 1990 Zach de Beer (b. 1928 - d. 1999)
+ Wynand Malan (b. 1943)
+ Denis Worrall (b. 1935)
9 Sep 1990 - 22 May 1994 Zach de Beer (s.a.)
22 May 1994 - 6 May 2007 Tony Leon (b. 1956)
6 May 2007 - 10 May 2015 Helen Zille (f) (b. 1951)
10 May 2015 - 17 Nov 2019 Mmusi Maimane (b. 1980)
17 Nov 2019 - John Steenhuisen (b. 1976)
(interim to 1 Nov 2020)