• Under the political system of south Africa, the president is the executive head of the state elected by the parliament for two five year terms.
• President is both the executive head of state and also leads the cabinet.
• The president is subjected to impeachment by the national Assembly under the following conditions: On grounds of violations of the constitution or law, Misconduct, Inability to perform office functions
• The cabinet comprises of the President, Deputy President and the ministers.
• The president appoints the deputy president from amongst the National Assembly members.
The Legislative
• The bicameral Parliament of South Africa consists of the National Assembly and the National Council of Province.
• The National Assembly is presided over by a speaker with the assistance of the Deputy Speaker and members elected from the system of proportional representation.
• The members are elected for five year terms and consist of not more than 400 members.
• The National Council of Provinces elects its own chairperson and comprises of 54 permanent member and 36 special delegates.
• The National Council of Provinces is elected by the nine provincial legislatures.
The Judiciary
• The constitution of South Africa provides for an independent judiciary and the Constitutional Court is the country’s highest court of appeal.
• The constitutional court, the supreme Court share the position of the highest court in the country.
• The Constitutional court only decides on constitutional matters, The supreme court of appeal deals with final appeals on all other matters.
The leading political parties of South Africa are:
• The African National Congress (ANC) – the governing party.
• The Inkatha Freedom Party (Inkatha or IFP)
• Democratic Alliance (DA)
• South Africa Communist Party (SACP)
By Miguel
