President of South Africa

President of the Republic of South Africa List 10 other official names: President van Suid-Afrika  (Afrikaans) uMongameli weSewula Afrika  (Southern Ndebele) uMongameli waseMzantsi Afrika  (Xhosa) Umongameli waseNingizimu Afrika  (Zulu) uMengameli weleNingizimu Afrika  (Swati) Mopresidente wa Afrika Borwa  (Northern Sotho) Mopresident wa Afrika Borwa  (Sotho) Moporesitente wa Aforika Borwa  (Tswana) Puresidente wa Afrika-Dzonga  (Tsonga) Muphuresidennde wa Afrika Tshipembe  (Venda)
Seal of the President of South Africa
Incumbent Jacob Zuma since 9 May 2009
Style	His/Her Excellency
Residence	Mahlamba Ndlopfu (Pretoria) Genadendal (Cape Town) Dr John L Dube House (Durban)
Appointer	National Assembly of South Africa
Term length	5 years renewable once
Inaugural holder	Nelson Mandela
Formation	10 May 1994
Deputy	Cyril Ramaphosa
Salary	R 2,716,798 ($ 200,411)
Website	www.thepresidency.gov.za

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 (valid from 1994 to 1996), there was a Government of National Unity, in which a Member of Parliament (MP) 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 (adopted in 1996), 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.