In South Africa (SA), the president is the head of state and government and is limited to serve two terms, each consisting of five years.
South Africa has had five Presidents since the first post-apartheid elections in 1994.
President Cyril Ramaphosa who is currently holding the country’s top office serves as the fifth head of state of South Africa.
He was the vice president from 2014 before transitioning to presidency in February 2018.
After serving as the highest authority in South Africa, all the former presidents took various paths in their lives each leaving a distinct mark in the country’s history.
Jacob Zuma
Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma became the fourth president of South Africa in 2009.
Prior to this he served as the third vice president from 1999 to 2005.
He started his political career in 1959 and has held different positions at the African National Congress (ANC) party throughout his political career.
Zuma was ANC’s President between December 2007 and December 2017.
He also served as the party’s national chair (1994-1997), deputy secretary general (1991-1994) and deputy president (1997-2007).
However, in 2018, there were calls for Zuma to resign due to his alleged failure to uphold the country’s constitution. He resigned the same year after a failed impeachment attempt and votes of no confidence.
In January 2024, ANC suspended Zuma after he hinted at voting for the MK party in December 2023.
Additionally, in March, South Africa’s Electoral Court dismissed a petition by ANC seeking to deregister MK party which has since named Zuma as its presidential candidate.
The court also ruled in favor of Zuma allowing him to run for presidency in the upcoming May elections.
The electoral commission had earlier ruled that Zuma could not vie for the presidency due to his criminal record after his candidacy was objected to.
Kgalema Petrus Motlanthe the Shortest Serving President of South Africa
Kgalema Petrus Motlanthe served the shortest tenure as South Africa’s President only lasting eight months from September 2008 to May 2009.
He became the third post-apartheid president of SA having served in various capacities in the government a few months before ascending to the top seat.
Motlanthe was sworn in as a Member of Parliament on May 20, 2008, and as member of cabinet in July the same year.
He was later appointed as the second minister in the Presidency and the leader of Government Business.
However, on September 25, 2008, the country’s Parliament elected Motlanthe as the head of state by secret ballot, after President Thembo Mbeki resigned from the top seat.
He declined to run for the presidency and so became vice president to Jacob Zuma in 2009 a position he held up to 2014.
Also Read: Where Are They Now: Former Africa Union Commission Chairpersons
The former president also served as ANC deputy president between December 2007 and December 2012
In addition, Motlanthe announced his retirement from government and parliament a few months before the 2014 general elections.
He however remained vocal in issues relating to the ANC party and the operations of the government, even becoming Jacob Zuma’s fierce opponent repeatedly calling for his resignations as president.
He has also performed several other functions since retiring for active politics.
In 2018, Motlanthe chaired African Union’s election observation in Sierra Leone before leading a commission inquiry into post-election unrest in Zimbabwe the same year.
He also chaired ANC’s internal electoral committee before the 2021 elections monitoring the selection of candidates for election.
Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mbeki was the second president of South Africa after the apartheid.
Mbeki served as the country’s first deputy president between May 10, 1994, and June 14, 1999, and later held the presidential seat for nine years between 1999 and 2008.
He resigned as President on September 24, 2008, a few months before the end of his second term after he was accused of interfering with the National Prosecuting Authority.
Thabo Mbeki’s tenure as South Africa’s head of state was commendable as he brought development to different sectors of the country.
Also Read: Where Are They Now? Former Health Cabinet Secretaries
He was popular for bringing an end to various states in the continent.
After retiring, Mbeki retained his membership at ANC but maintained a low profile on party politics until 2011. Likewise, he retained his role as political dispute mediator in Zimbabwe a position he held until 2020.
He also played a key role in breaking a deal between Sudan and South Sudan in 2016 which made the parties commence peace negotiations.
In January 2024, Thabo Mbeki Foundation dismissed reports of his demise stating that the former president was in good health.
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was the first post-apartheid and first black president of South Africa. He served SA from 1994 to 1999.
Mandela was widely known for his activism during the apartheid regime in South Africa.
He continued engaging in public events even after retiring with the help of the Nelson Mandela Foundation founded in 1999.
He inaugurated the Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture in 2003 and Mandela Rhodes Foundation in 2004.
Mandela announced that he was retiring from public life in 2004 which saw his Foundation turn down public events and interview invitations.
However, in 2011, the first black president of South Africa was hospitalized with a respiratory illness and re-admitted in 2012 for a lung infection.
His lung infection reoccurred in March 2013 and worsened in June the same year.
Nelson Mandela died on December 5, 2013, at the age of 95 and was buried on December 15, the same year.
