Politics
Contents
- Official name: Republic of South Africa (RSA)
- Form of state: A federal state, consisting of a national government and nine provincial governments
- Constitutional Democracy
- The Republic of South Africa (RSA) is a parliamentary representative republic
- Presidential republic:
- President is head of state and head of parliament
- Multiparty System: Head of majority party is usually head of state
- Three independent and distinctive branches of government:
- Parliament
- Legislature
- Judiciary
- Legal system: Based on Roman-Dutch law and the 1996 constitution, in force since February 4th 1997
- Current President: Cyril Ramaphosa
National legislature
Bicameral parliament elected every five years, comprising the 400-seat National Assembly and the 90-seat National Council of Provinces
Electoral system
- List system of proportional representation based on universal adult suffrage
National elections
- The most recent general election took place on May 8th 2019 and the next will be in 2024; municipal elections were held in August 2016
Head of state
President, elected by the National Assembly; under the constitution, the president is permitted to serve a maximum of two five-year terms
National government
- African National Congress (ANC)
Main political parties
- The ANC is the governing party with the support, in a tripartite alliance, of
- The South African Communist Party (SACP); and
- The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)
Other parties include:
- The Democratic Alliance (DA; the official opposition);
- The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF);
- The Inkatha Freedom Party (Inkatha or IFP);
- The United Democratic Movement (UDM);
- The Congress of the People (Cope; formed by former members of the ANC); and
- VF Plus, which is a largely Afrikaner party
Key ministers
- President: Cyril Ramaphosa
- Deputy president: David Mabuza
- Minister in the presidency: Jackson Mthembu
- Minister in the presidency, women: Maite Nkoana-Mashabane
- Agriculture, forestry & fishing: Angela Didiza
- Communications: Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams
- Defence: Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakulu
- Energy: Samson Mantashe
- Finance: Tito Mboweni
- Health: Zweli Mkhize
- Higher education: Bonginkosi Nzimande
- Home affairs: Pakishe Motsoaledi
- Human settlements: Lindiwe Sisulu
- International relations: Grace Pandor
- Justice & constitutional development: Ronald Lamola
- Labour: Thembelani Nxesi
- Mineral resources: Gwede Mantash
- Police: Bheki Cele
- Public enterprises: Patricia Lille
- Rural development & land reform: Angela Thokozile Didiza
- State security: Ayanda Dlodlo
- Trade & industry: Ebrahim Patel
- Transport: Fikile Mbalula
Central bank governor
- Lesetja Kganyago
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