Trade Union Forum

STATE STRUCTURE

General Information

Official name – Republic of South Africa.
Form of government – Parliamentary republic.
President (2025) – Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa.
State languages – Afrikaans, English, Southern Ndebele, Xhosa, Zulu, Northern Sotho, Tswana, Swati, Venda, Tsonga.
South Africa has three capitals: the government operates in Pretoria, the parliament – in Cape Town, the Supreme Court – in Bloemfontein.

Foundation Period

After periods of Dutch and British rule, South Africa gained independence in 1961, becoming the Republic of South Africa and leaving the Commonwealth. The country's main problem for a long time was the legacy of apartheid – a regime aimed at creating a "South Africa for whites", which severely restricted the rights of the black population.

In September 1989, active steps were taken to dismantle the apartheid system. The change of the political system occurred peacefully. Many discriminatory laws were repealed, and activists who had opposed apartheid were released from prison. In 1993, the interim constitution of South Africa was adopted. In 1994, the first universal elections were held, won by the African National Congress, which remains in power to this day, and South Africa's membership in the Commonwealth was restored.

On October 11, 1996, the current Constitution of the Republic of South Africa was adopted by the Constituent Assembly, signed by South African President Nelson Mandela on December 10, and came into force on February 4, 1997, repealing the interim constitution of 1993.

Heads of State

Since 1994, in accordance with the current Constitution, the head of state and government is the President, elected by the National Assembly until the next general elections.

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela – held the post of president from May 10, 1994 to June 16, 1999. Statesman and political figure; during his term, he undertook a number of important socio-economic reforms to overcome social and economic inequality in South Africa.

Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki – held the post of president from June 16, 1999 to September 24, 2008. Political and state figure.

Kgalema Petrus Motlanthe – held the post of president from September 25, 2008 to May 9, 2009.

Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma – held the post of president from May 9, 2009 to February 14, 2018.

Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa – has held the post of president from February 15, 2018 to the present. State, political, and trade union figure, entrepreneur.

Administrative Division

South Africa is a unitary state. The country's territory is divided into 9 provinces, each with its own administrative center:

• Western Cape (Cape Town);
• Northern Cape (Kimberley);
• Eastern Cape (Bhisho);
• KwaZulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg);
• Free State (Bloemfontein);
• North West (Mahikeng);
• Gauteng (Johannesburg);
• Mpumalanga (Nelspruit);
• Limpopo (Polokwane).