Current Political Parties
African National Congress
President of the African National Congress
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
Date of birth/date of death: b. July 18 1918; d. December 5 2013.
1991 – 1997
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki
Date of birth/date of death: b. June 18 1942.
1997 – 2007
Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma
Date of birth/date of death: b. April 12 1942.
2007 – 2017
Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa
Date of birth/date of death: b. November 17 1952.
2017 – present
Deputy President of the African National Congress
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki
Date of birth/date of death: b. June 18 1942.
1994 – 1997
Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma
Date of birth/date of death: b. April 12 1942.
1997 – 2007
Kgalema Petrus Motlanthe
Date of birth/date of death: b. July 19 1949.
2007 – 2012
Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa
Date of birth/date of death: b. November 17 1952.
2012 – 2017
David Dabede Mabuza
Date of birth/date of death: b. August 25 1960; d. July 3 2025.
2017 – 2022
Paulus Shipokosa “Paul” Mashatile
Date of birth/date of death: b. October 21 1961.
2022 – present
National Chair of the African National Congress
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki
Date of birth/date of death: b. June 18 1942.
1993 – 1994
Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma
Date of birth/date of death: b. April 12 1942.
1994 – 1997
Secretary-General of the African National Congress
Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa
Date of birth/date of death: b. November 17 1952.
1991 – 1996
Kgalema Petrus Motlanthe
Date of birth/date of death: b. July 19 1949.
1997 – 2007
Paulus Shipokosa “Paul” Mashatile (*acting)
Date of birth/date of death: b. October 21 1961.
2022
Democratic Alliance
Federal Leader of the Democratic Alliance
Anthony James “Tony” Leon
Date of birth/date of death: b. December 15 1956.
2000 – 2007
Mmusi Aloysias Maimane
Date of birth/date of death: b. June 6 1980.
2015 – 2019
John Henry Steenhuisen (*acting)
Date of birth/date of death: b. March 25 1976.
2019 – 2020
John Henry Steenhuisen
Date of birth/date of death: b. March 25 1976.
2020 – present
Economic Freedom Fighters
President of the Economic Freedom Fighters
Julius Sello Malema
Date of birth/date of death: b. March 3 1981.
2013 – present
Freedom Front Plus
Constand Laubscher Viljoen
Date of birth/date of death: b. October 28 1933; d. April 3 2020.
1994 – 2001
uMkhonto weSizwe
President of uMkhonto weSizwe
Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma
Date of birth/date of death: b. April 12 1942.
2023 – present
Deputy President of uMkhonto weSizwe
Mandlakiyse John Hlophe
Date of birth/date of death: b. May 19 1959.
2024 – present
Democratic Party
Federal Leader of the Democratic Party
Anthony James “Tony” Leon
Date of birth/date of death: b. December 15 1956.
1994 – 2000
National Party
President of the National Party
Frederik Willem de Klerk
Date of birth/date of death: b. March 18 1936; d. November 11 2021.
1989 – 1997
New National Party
Leader of the New National Party
Marthinus Christoffel Johannes van Schalkwyk
Date of birth/date of death: b. November 10 1959.
1997 – 2005
South African Party
Leader of the South African Party
Jan Christian Smuts
Date of birth/date of death: b. May 24 1870; d. September 11 1950
1919 – 1934
United Party
Leader of the United Party
James Berry Munnik Hertzog
Date of birth/date of death: b. April 3 1866; d. November 21 1942
1934 – 1939
Field Marshal Jan Christian Smuts
Date of birth/date of death: b. May 24 1870; d. September 11 1950
1939 – 1950