ersal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Nelson MANDELA (since 10 May 1994); Deputy
Executive President Thabo MBEKI (since 10 May 1994); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Nelson MANDELA (since 10 May 1994);
Deputy Executive President Thabo MBEKI (since 10 May 1994); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet : Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and deputy executive presidents elected by the
National Assembly; election last held 9 May 1994 (next to be held in
April 1999)
election results: Nelson MANDELA elected president; percent of
National Assembly vote - 100% (by acclamation); Thabo MBEKI and
Frederik W. DE KLERK elected deputy executive presidents; percent of
National Assembly vote - 100% (by acclamation)
note: the initial governing coalition, made up of the ANC, the IFP,
and the NP, which constituted a Government of National Unity or GNU,
no longer includes the NP which was withdrawn by DE KLERK on 30 June
1996 when he voluntarily gave up his position as deputy executive
president and distanced himself from the programs of the ANC

Legislative branch: bicameral parliament consisting of the National
Assembly (400 seats; members are elected by popular vote under a
system of proportional representation to serve five-year terms) and
the National Council of Provinces (90 seats, ten members elected by
each of the nine provincial legislatures for five-year terms; has
special powers to protect regional interests, including the
safeguarding of cultural and linguistic traditions among ethnic
minorities); note - following the implementation of the new
constitution on 3 February 1997 the former Senate was disbanded and
replaced by the National Council of Provinces with essentially no
change in membership and party affiliations, although the new
institution's responsibilities have been changed somewhat by the new
constitution
elections: National Assembly and Senate - last held 26-29 April 1994
(next to be held NA April 1999); note - the Senate was disbanded and
replaced by the National Council of Provinces on 6 February 1997
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - ANC
62.6%, NP 20.4%, IFP 10.5%, FF 2.2%, DP 1.7%, PAC 1.2%, ACDP 0.5%,
other 0.9%; seats by party - ANC 252, NP 82, IFP 43, FF 9, DP 7, PAC
5, ACDP 2; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -