Governments / Countries / South Africa

How is South Africa governed?

South Africa is a parliamentary republic with an executive president. The president is both head of state and head of government. Real power sits with the president.

Show on the map Regime timeline

Questions people ask

Is South Africa a monarchy or a republic?
South Africa is a republic (parliamentary republic with an executive president).
Who really rules South Africa?
The president holds the real executive power. Head of state: President. Head of government: President. They are the same office.
How is the head of state of South Africa chosen?
Elected by parliament.
Does South Africa have a king?
No. South Africa has no monarch; its last monarchy ended in 1961.
Is South Africa a federation?
No. It is a unitary state, but some regions govern themselves.
How many chambers does the parliament of South Africa have?
Two chambers: National Assembly (400 seats) and National Council of Provinces (90 seats).
When did South Africa become a republic?
The present republic dates from 1961.

Parliament: National Assembly + National Council of Provinces

South Africa's legislature has two chambers, 490 seats in all. Each dot is one seat; party seat counts are on IPU Parline.

National AssemblyLower house · 400 seats
National Council of ProvincesUpper house · 90 seats

Regime history

One label per period, on South Africa's present-day identity.

19102026
YearsRegimeState
1910–1961 Constitutional monarchy Union of South Africa (dominion; white-minority rule) source
1961–1994 Republic Republic under apartheid (white-minority rule) source
1994–today Republic Democratic Republic of South Africa source