# Table of precedence in South Africa

The South African table of precedence is a nominal and symbolic hierarchy of important positions within the Republic of South Africa. It has no legal standing but is used to dictate ceremonial protocol at events of a national nature.
No date of issuance was known to the public, but the present table was amended on 1 January 1996.

## Table of precedence

South African Official Table of Precedence is as follows:
| Rubric | Description |
| 1 | President of the Republic (Cyril Ramaphosa) |
| 2 | Deputy President of the Republic (David Mabuza) President-elect of the Republic |
| 3 | Chief Justice (Raymond Zondo) |
| 3 | President of the Constitutional Court |
| 4 | Former presidents of the Republic: Thabo Mbeki (14 June 1999 – 24 September 2008) Kgalema Motlanthe (25 September 2008 – 9 May 2009) Jacob Zuma (9 May 2009 – 14 February 2018) |
| 4 | Former deputy presidents of the Republic (note that Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma, who would otherwise appear on the list, already appear above as former presidents): Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka (14 June 2005 – 24 September 2008) Baleka Mbete (25 September 2008 – 9 May 2009) |
| 5 | By seniority: Ministers Speaker of the National Assembly (NA) Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Premiers of Provinces |
| 6 | Ambassadors (by seniority) |
| 6 | Envoys Extraordinary and Ministers Plenipotentiary (by seniority) |
| 6 | Chargé d'affaires en titre (by seniority) |
| 6 | Heads of other Permanent Diplomatic Missions (by seniority) |
| 7 | By seniority: Deputy Ministers Members of the Provincial Executive Councils Speakers of Provincial Legislatures |
| 7 | By seniority: Deputy Speaker of NA Deputy Chairperson of NCOP |
| 7 | By seniority: Chief Whip of the majority party in NA and NCOP Deputy Speakers of Provincial Legislatures Chairperson of NA Standing Committee on Public Accounts Parliamentary Councillor of the President |
| 8 | Secretary of the Cabinet Chief of the National Defence Force |
| 9 | Charges d'affaires ad interim of Embassies (by seniority) |
| 9 | Charges d'affaires ad interim of Legations (by seniority) |
| 9 | Charges d'affaires ad interim of other Permanent Diplomatic Missions (by seniority) |
| 10 | Leaders of other political parties in NA and NCOP (by seniority) |
| 11 | Deputy President of the Constitutional Court |
| 11 | Judges of Appeal (by seniority) |
| 11 | Judges of the Constitutional Court (by seniority) |
| 11 | Judges President (by seniority) |
| 11 | Deputy Judges President (by seniority) |
| 11 | Judges of the Supreme Court (by seniority) |
| 12 | Former Chief Justices: Sandile Ngcobo (12 October 2009 – 12 August 2011) Mogoeng Mogoeng (8 September 2011 - 11 October 2021) |
| 13 | Chairpersons of Commissions established under the Constitution (by seniority) |
| 14 | Members of NA and NCOP (by seniority) |
| 14 | Members of Provincial Legislatures (by seniority) |
| 14 | Local royalties (by seniority) |
| 14 | Chairman of the Council for Traditional Leaders |
| 14 | Chairpersons of the Provincial Houses of Traditional Leaders (by seniority) |
| 15 | By seniority: Auditor-General Governor of the Reserve Bank Chairperson of the Public Service Commission Public Protector |
| 15 | Members of the Public Service Commission (by seniority) |
| 15 | Directors-General and their equivalents of Government Departments, including Secretary to NA, Secretary to NCOP, Secretary for Safety and Security, Defence Secretary and Directors-General of Provinces (by seniority) |
| 15 | Attorneys-General (by seniority) |
| 15 | Chairpersons of State Corporations (by seniority) |
| 16 | Mayor of the capital of the Province (in which the function is held) |
| 16 | Chairpersons of the Metropolitan Councils of the region (in which the function is held) |
| 17 | Mayor of other Provincial Capitals |
| 18 | The spouses of the foregoing persons enjoy the precedence of their spouses |
| 19 | Courtesy precedence at the discretion of the President. |