<P> 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 Constitution 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 . </P>
<P> 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 Constitution 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 . </P>
who is the president of south africa now
who is the president of south africa now
Jacob Zuma
Jacob Zuma