Leader of the Opposition (South Africa)

Leader of the Opposition of the Republic of South Africa List 10 other official names: Leier van die Opposisie  (Afrikaans) umRholi weHlangano ePhikisako  (Southern Ndebele) INkokeli yeQela eliPhikisayo  (Xhosa) UMholi weQembu Eliphikisayo  (Zulu) Umholi Welicembu Leliphikisako  (Swati) Moetapele wa Lekgotlakgolo la Kganetšo  (Northern Sotho) Moetapele wa Mokga wa Kganyetso  (Sotho) Moeteledi wa Kganetso  (Tswana) Murhangeri wa Vukaneti  (Tsonga) Murangaphanḓa wa Ḽihoro Ḽihanedzi  (Venda)
Incumbent Mmusi Maimane since 6 May 2014 (Parliamentary) since 10 May 2015 (National)
Style	The Right Honourable
Term length	While leader of the largest political party not in government
Inaugural holder	Leander Starr Jameson
Formation	15 September 1910

The Leader of the Opposition in South Africa is a title held by the leader of the largest party, not forming part of the government, in the most important house of Parliament. This was the House of Assembly from 1910 to 1994 and the National Assembly from 1994. He or she acts as the public face of the opposition, leading the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet and the challenge to the government on the floor of Parliament. They thus act as a chief critic of the government and ultimately attempt to portray the opposition as a feasible alternate government.

The current Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly is Mmusi Maimane of the Democratic Alliance. He is also the national party leader. Former national party leader Helen Zille is not a member of the National Assembly, but is the Premier of the Western Cape.

In the list below, when the office is said to be vacant, there was no opposition party with more than ten seats and no clear Leader of the Opposition has been identified. This was the case between the formation of the Hertzog-Smuts coalition in 1933 and the breakaway of the Purified National Party in 1934. It was also the case during the government of National Unity from 1994 until the National Party ministers resigned in 1996.

In some cases the Leader of the Opposition may have been the Parliamentary leader only, during a vacancy in the party leadership and the first part of their own tenure, before being confirmed as national party leader by a party congress. Only the last two Leaders of the Opposition in the list have been Parliamentary leaders only, whilst the incumbent national party leader was not a Member of Parliament.

Section 56 of the South Africa Act 1909, was amended by Section 1 (b) of the South Africa Act Amendment Act 1946. A salary was provided for the Leader of the Opposition and the office was given an official definition.

"For the purposes of this section the expression 'Leader of the Opposition' shall mean that member of the House of Assembly who is for the time being the Leader in that House of the party in opposition to the Government having the greatest numerical strength in that House and if there is any doubt as to which is or was at any material time the party in opposition to the Government having the greatest numerical strength in that House of Assembly, or as to who is or was at any material time the Leader in the House of such a party, the question shall be decided for the purposes of this section by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, and his decision, certified in writing under his hand, shall be final and conclusive".