<Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> The President of the Republic of South Africa is the head of state and head of government under the Constitution of South Africa . From 1961 to 1994, the head of state was called the State President . </P> <P> The President is elected by the National Assembly, the lower house of Parliament, and is usually the leader of the largest party, which has been the African National Congress since the first non-racial elections were held on 27 April 1994 . The role was founded to be distinct from the now defunct role of prime minister, but the two roles were merged in the 1983 constitution which specified a four - year term of office . The Constitution limits the president's time in office to two five - year terms . The first president to be elected under the new constitution was Nelson Mandela, and the incumbent president is Jacob Zuma . </P> <P> Under the interim constitution (valid from 1994 to 1996), there was a Government of National Unity, in which a Member of Parliament (MP) from the largest opposition party was entitled to a position as Deputy President . Along with Thabo Mbeki, the last State President, F.W. de Klerk also served as Deputy President, in his capacity as the leader of the National Party which was the second - largest party in the new Parliament . But De Klerk later resigned and went into opposition with his party . A voluntary coalition government continues to exist under the new constitution (adopted in 1996), although there have been no appointments of opposition politicians to the post of Deputy President . </P>

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