Claim: Nelson Mandela was a president.

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 .   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 1993 and later constitutions 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 .   Under the interim constitution -LRB- valid from 1994 to 1996 -RRB- , there was a Government of National Unity , in which a Member of Parliament -LRB- MP -RRB- 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 -LRB- adopted in 1996 -RRB- , although there have been no appointments of opposition politicians to the post of Deputy President .   The President is required to be a member of the National Assembly at the time of his election . Upon his election , he immediately resigns his seat for the duration of his term . The President may be removed either by a motion of no-confidence or an impeachment trial .