The Prime Minister of South Africa (Afrikaans: Premier or Eerste Minister van Suid-Afrika) was the head of government in South Africa between 1910 and 1984, as the leader of the largest party in the House of Assembly.
The South African monarch was the head of state, until 1961, when the non-executive State President of South Africa assumed that role, following South Africa's departure from the Commonwealth of Nations, and the establishment of a republic.
The position of Prime Minister was abolished in 1984, when the State President was given executive powers after a new constitution was adopted. After 1994, the President's position was infused with many of the dependencies of the former Prime Minister's position.
In post-Apartheid South Africa, the Inkatha Freedom Party has called for a return to Westminster-style split executive with a Prime Minister, as part of its overarching goal of avoiding a single party South African state.
Read more about Prime Minister Of South Africa: List of Prime Ministers of South Africa (1910–1984)
Famous quotes containing the words prime minister, prime, minister, south and/or africa:
“If one had to worry about one’s actions in respect of other people’s ideas, one might as well be buried alive in an antheap or married to an ambitious violinist. Whether that man is the prime minister, modifying his opinions to catch votes, or a bourgeois in terror lest some harmless act should be misunderstood and outrage some petty convention, that man is an inferior man and I do not want to have anything to do with him any more than I want to eat canned salmon.”
—Aleister Crowley (1875–1947)
“The prime purpose of being four is to enjoy being four—of secondary importance is to prepare for being five.”
—Jim Trelease (20th century)
“He had a gentleman-like frankness in his behaviour, and as a great point of honour as a minister can have, especially a minister at the head of the treasury, where numberless sturdy and insatiable beggars of condition apply, who cannot all be gratified, nor all with safety be refused.”
—Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl Chesterfield (1694–1773)
“A friend and I flew south with our children. During the week we spent together I took off my shoes, let down my hair, took apart my psyche, cleaned the pieces, and put them together again in much improved condition. I feel like a car that’s just had a tune-up. Only another woman could have acted as the mechanic.”
—Anna Quindlen (20th century)
“I who have cursed
The drunken officer of British rule, how choose
Between this Africa and the English tongue I love?
Betray them both, or give back what they give?
How can I face such slaughter and be cool?
How can I turn from Africa and live?”
—Derek Walcott (b. 1930)