A narrow majority — 52 percent — of the minority white electorate voted in favour of abolishing the monarchy and declaring South Africa a republic.

The National Party decided against having an executive presidency, instead adopting a minimalist approach as a conciliatory gesture to those in the English-speaking community who were opposed to a republic.

[2] As such, like the Governor-General of South Africa, the State President performed mostly ceremonial duties, and was bound by convention to act on the advice of the Prime Minister and the cabinet.

The Prime Minister's post was abolished, and its powers were de facto merged with those of the State President.

He was chairman of the President's Council, which resolved disputes between the three chambers regarding "general affairs" legislation.

Although the reforms were billed as a power-sharing arrangement, the composition of the electoral college and President's Council made it all but impossible for the white chamber to be outvoted on any substantive matter.

Under South Africa's first non-racial constitution, adopted in 1994, the head of state (and of government) has been known simply as the President.

[3][4] The leader of the African National Congress, Nelson Mandela, was sworn in as President of South Africa on 10 May 1994.