Leader of the Opposition (South Africa)

Leader of the Opposition of the Republic of South Africa ; List 10 other official names: ; Leier van die Opposisie (Afrikaans) ; umRholi weHlangano ePhikisako (Southern Ndebele) ; INkokeli yeQela eliPhikisayo (Xhosa) ; UMholi weQembu Eliphikisayo (Zulu) ; Umholi Welicembu Leliphikisako (Swazi) ; Moetapele wa Lekgotlakgolo la Kganetšo (Northern Sotho) ; Moetapele wa Mokga wa Kganyetso (Sotho) ; Moeteledi wa Kganetso (Tswana) ; Murhangeri wa Vukaneti (Tsonga) ; Murangaphanḓa wa Ḽihoro Ḽihanedzi (Venda) ;
	Incumbent; John Steenhuisen; since 27 October 2019
Style	The Honourable
Term length	While leader of the largest political party not in government
Inaugural holder	Leander Starr Jameson
Formation	15 September 1910

The Leader of the Opposition in South Africa is a title held by the leader of the largest party, not forming part of the government, in the most important house of Parliament. This was the House of Assembly from 1910 to 1994 and the National Assembly from 1994. He or she acts as the public face of the opposition, leading the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet and the challenge to the government on the floor of Parliament. They thus act as a chief critic of the government and ultimately attempt to portray the opposition as a feasible alternate government.

The position of Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly is currently held by John Steenhuisen of the Democratic Alliance, who was appointed on 27 October 2019.

In the list below, when the office is said to be vacant, there was no opposition party with more than ten seats and no clear Leader of the Opposition has been identified. This was the case between the formation of the Hertzog-Smuts coalition in 1933 and the breakaway of the Purified National Party in 1934. It was also the case during the government of National Unity from 1994 until the National Party ministers resigned in 1996.

In some cases, the Leader of the Opposition may have been the Parliamentary leader only, during a vacancy in the party leadership and the first part of their own tenure, before being confirmed as national party leader by a party congress. Only the last two Leaders of the Opposition in the list have been Parliamentary leaders only, whilst the incumbent national party leader was not a Member of Parliament.

Legal definition

Section 56 of the South Africa Act 1909, was amended by Section 1 (b) of the South Africa Act Amendment Act 1946. A salary was provided for the Leader of the Opposition and the office was given an official definition.

"For the purposes of this section the expression 'Leader of the Opposition' shall mean that member of the House of Assembly who is for the time being the Leader in that House of the party in opposition to the Government having the greatest numerical strength in that House and if there is any doubt as to which is or was at any material time the party in opposition to the Government having the greatest numerical strength in that House of Assembly, or as to who is or was at any material time the Leader in the House of such a party, the question shall be decided for the purposes of this section by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, and his decision, certified in writing under his hand, shall be final and conclusive".[1]

The current Constitution of South Africa makes provision for recognition of the Leader of the Opposition in section 57(2):

"The rules and orders of the National Assembly must provide for … the recognition of the leader of the largest opposition party in the Assembly as the Leader of the Opposition."

Rule 21 of the rules of the National Assembly provides in similar words that:

"The leader of the largest opposition party in the Assembly must be recognised as the Leader of the Opposition."[2]

List of Leaders of the Opposition in South Africa (1910–present)

No.	Leader (Birth–Death)	Political party	Term of office
1	Leander Starr Jameson (1853–1917)	Unionist Party	1910–1912[3]
2	Thomas Smartt (1858–1929)	Unionist Party	1912–1920[4]
3	James Barry Munnik Hertzog (1866–1942)	National Party	1920–1924
4	Jan Christiaan Smuts (1870–1950)	South African Party	1924–1933
vacant[lower-alpha 1]			1933–1934
	Walter Madeley (1873–1947)	Labour Party	1933–1934
5	Daniel François Malan (1874–1959)	Purified National Party	1934–1940
(3)	James Barry Munnik Hertzog (1866–1942)	Reunited National Party	1940
(5)	Daniel François Malan (1874–1959)	Reunited National Party	1940–1948
(4)	Jan Christiaan Smuts (1870–1950)	United Party	1948–1950
6	Jacobus Gideon Nel Strauss (1900–1990)	United Party	1950–1956
7	Sir De Villiers Graaff (1913–1999)	United Party	1956–1977
8	Radclyffe Cadman (1924–2011)	New Republic Party	1977
9	Colin Eglin (1925–2013)	Progressive Federal Party	1977–1979
10	Frederik van Zyl Slabbert (1940–2010)	Progressive Federal Party	1979–1986
(9)	Colin Eglin (1925–2013)	Progressive Federal Party	1986–1987
11	Andries Treurnicht (1921–1993)	Conservative Party	1987–1993
12	Ferdinand Hartzenberg (born 1936)	Conservative Party	1993–1994
vacant[lower-alpha 2]			1994–1996
	Constand Viljoen (1933–2020)	Freedom Front	1994–1996
13	Frederik Willem de Klerk (born 1936)	National Party	1996–1997
14	Marthinus van Schalkwyk (born 1959)	New National Party	1997–1999
	Tony Leon (born 1956)	Democratic Party (until 2000) Democratic Alliance (from 2000)	1999–2007
15

16	Sandra Botha (born 1945)	Democratic Alliance	2007–2009
17	Athol Trollip (born 1964)	Democratic Alliance	2009–2011
18	Lindiwe Mazibuko (born 1980)	Democratic Alliance	2011–2014
19	Mmusi Maimane (born 1980)	Democratic Alliance	2014–2019
—	Annelie Lotriet Acting	Democratic Alliance	2019
20	John Steenhuisen (born 1976)	Democratic Alliance	2019–present

Notes

During this interval, Walter Madeley of the Labour Party served as de facto leader of the opposition, being leader of the largest party outside government coalition.
During this interval, Constand Viljoen of the Freedom Front Plus served as de facto leader of the opposition, being leader of the largest party outside government coalition.

References

The South African Constitution, by H.J. May (3rd edition 1955, Juta & Co)
Keesing's Contemporary Archives, various volumes
Smuts: A Reappraisal, by Bernard Friedman (George, Allen & Unwin 1975) ISBN 0-04-920045-3
South Africa 1982 Official Yearbook of the Republic of South Africa, published by Chris van Rensburg Publications

The South African Constitution, pages 596–597
"Rules of the National Assembly: 7th Edition" (PDF). Parliament of South Africa. June 2011. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
The Times, edition of 24 May 1911, a review of the first session of the Union Parliament. South Africa 1982, Jameson first leader of the Unionist Party in 1910; Unionist Party second largest party in the 1st Union Parliament
The Unionists gave some support to the South African Party government, so it could continue in office as a minority government from 1915 to 1920. The Times, article of 21 March 1916 confirms that Smartt was still considered to be the leader of the opposition in the 2nd Parliament of the Union. South Africa 1982, page 166.

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[5] During this interval, Walter Madeley of the Labour Party served as de facto leader of the opposition, being leader of the largest party outside government coalition.

[6] During this interval, Constand Viljoen of the Freedom Front Plus served as de facto leader of the opposition, being leader of the largest party outside government coalition.

[1] The South African Constitution, pages 596–597

[2] "Rules of the National Assembly: 7th Edition" (PDF). Parliament of South Africa. June 2011. Retrieved 25 August 2012.

[3] The Times, edition of 24 May 1911, a review of the first session of the Union Parliament. South Africa 1982, Jameson first leader of the Unionist Party in 1910; Unionist Party second largest party in the 1st Union Parliament

[4] The Unionists gave some support to the South African Party government, so it could continue in office as a minority government from 1915 to 1920. The Times, article of 21 March 1916 confirms that Smartt was still considered to be the leader of the opposition in the 2nd Parliament of the Union. South Africa 1982, page 166.