| Name | Born-died | Term of office | Political party
|
| Louis Botha | 1862 - 1919 | May 31, 1910 - August 27, 1919 | South African Party
|
| Jan Smuts | 1870 - 1950 | September 3, 1919 - September 11, 1950 | South African Party
|
| Jan Hofmeyr | 1894 - 1958 | September 12, 1950 - November 30, 1954 | South African Party
|
| Helen Suzman | 1917 - | November 30, 1954 - August 24, 1958 | South African Party
|
| Alan Paton | 1903 - 1988 | September 2, 1958 - September 6, 1963 | South African Party
|
| Nelson Mandela | 1918 - | September 13, 1963 - September 29, 1975 | African National Congress
|
| Walter Sisulu | 1912 - 2003 | September 29, 1975 - September 14, 1977 | African National Congress
|
| Harry Schwarz | 1924 - | September 14, 1977 - October 20, 1981 | South African Party
|
| Hastings Banda | 1896? - 1997 | October 20, 1981 - September 3, 1984 | Democratic Party
|
| Oliver Tambo | 1917 - 1993 | September 3, 1984 - April 24, 1993 | African National Congress
|
| Cyril Ramaphosa | 1952 - | April 24, 1993 - June 14, 1999 | African National Congress
|
| Christiaan Willem Smuts | 1956 - | June 14, 1999 - April 14, 2004 | South African Party
|
| Ian Khama | 1953 - | April 14, 2004 - present | Democratic Party
|
