President of the Senate of South Africa

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President of the Senate of South Africa
Incumbent
None
Senate of South Africa
Style Honourable President
Type Presiding officer of one chamber in a bicameral legislature
Residence Cape Town
AppointerElected by members of the Senate
Formation1 November 1910
First holder Francis William Reitz
Final holder Kobie Coetsee
Abolished4 February 1997

The president of the Senate presided over the Senate of South Africa, the upper house of the Parliament of South Africa. The president was chosen from among the senators at its first sitting following a general election and whenever the office was vacant. The president acted as a "referee", taking charge of debates to make sure that the senators could participate freely while keeping to the rules. The president also had managerial duties to ensure that Senate runs smoothly. Each political party in the Senate elected a chief whip to run its affairs. The presiding officers, the chief whips, and the leader of government business (the person appointed by the Cabinet to liaise with Parliament) together decided on the programme of work.

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The president of the Senate had a dormant commission to become acting State President of South Africa when there was a vacancy in that office, which was often the case, especially between 1967 and 1979.

The Senate was abolished for the first time in 1980, with effect from 1 January 1981, during a process of constitutional reform, and replaced with the President's Council. The Senate was briefly reestablished under the 1993 interim constitution. The Senate was abolished for the second and final time under the 1997 constitution. The office of president of the Senate was succeeded by the office of chairperson of the National Council of Provinces.

List of presidents (1910–1980 and 1994–1997)

No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of officePolitical party
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
Presidents of the First Senate (1910–1980)
1 WFReitz CHM VA0957.jpg Francis William Reitz
(1844–1934)
1 November 191010 March 192110 years, 129 days South African Party
2 The National Convention, 1908, Hercules Christiaan van Heerden.jpg H. C. van Heerden
(1862–1933)
11 March 192130 June 19298 years, 111 days South African Party
3 No image.png R. A. Kerr 19 July 192916 January 1930181 days National Party
4 No image.png Christiaan Andries van Niekerk  [ af ]
(1874–1966)
17 January 193018 January 194010 years, 1 day National Party
(until 1934)
United Party
(from 1934)
5 Francois Stephanus Malan.jpg François Stephanus Malan
(1871–1941)
19 January 194031 December 1941
(Died in office)
1 year, 346 days United Party
6 No image.png Philippus Arnoldus Myburgh  [ af ]
(1880–1946)
12 January 194231 December 19453 years, 353 days United Party
7 No image.png Pieter Jurie Wessels
(1878–1958)
18 January 19465 August 19482 years, 200 days United Party
(4) No image.png Christiaan Andries van Niekerk  [ af ]
(1874–1966)
6 August 194819 January 196112 years, 166 days National Party
8 Tom Naude 1962.jpg Jozua François Naudé
(1889–1969)
20 January 196131 May 1969
(Died in office)
8 years, 131 days National Party
9 Jan de Klerk.jpg Johannes de Klerk
(1903–1979)
6 June 1969January 19766 years, 6 months National Party
10 Marais Viljoen.jpg Marais Viljoen
(1915–2007)
23 January 197618 June 19793 years, 146 days National Party
11 No image.png Jimmy Kruger
(1917–1987)
19 June 197931 December 19801 year, 195 days National Party
Post abolished (1 January 1981 – 20 May 1994)
President of the Second Senate (1994–1997)
12 No image.png Kobie Coetsee
(1931–2000)
20 May 19944 February 19972 years, 260 days National Party

Timeline

Kobie CoetseeJimmy KrugerMarais ViljoenJan de KlerkTom NaudéP. J. WesselsPhilippus Arnoldus MyburghF. S. MalanChristiaan Andries van NiekerkR. A. KerrHarry van HeerdenFrancis William ReitzPresident of the Senate of South Africa

See also

References