The incumbent President of South Africa was Jacob Zuma who was first elected in 2009 and was re-elected in 2014.

Politically, South Africa has held municipal elections in 2016.

The political party with the majority in most municipalities in 2016 South Africa is the African National Congress, however, the Democratic Alliance managed to gain the key metros of Johannesburg, Pretoria and Port Elizabeth.

In international sport, a South African team of 68 athletes competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

South Africa hosted the African football tournament, 2016 Africa Futsal Cup of Nations in April.