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South Africa

South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa, is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by 2,798 kilometres of coastline that stretches along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countries of Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe; and to the east and northeast by Mozambique and Eswatini.

Entities

Our standard dataset contains 5,812 entities connected with South Africa. This may include sanctioned entities, politically-exposed persons (PEPs), and their close associates, or entities involved in criminal activity.

Data sources

We include 4 data sources published by authorities or organizations based in South Africa. See our global list of data sources and our criteria for selecting datasets.

Sanctions programs/policies targeting South Africa

We are not yet including any targeting entities that are based in South Africa.

Politically-exposed persons (PEPs)

Our database contains 3,343 entities identified as PEPs connected with South Africa.

National government positions

Number of known occupants
Head of state or governmentCurrentEndedStatus unclear
Deputy President1--
Deputy President of South Africa-7-
President1--
President of South Africa-31
National executive branchesCurrentEndedStatus unclear
Minister in the Presidency14-
Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation1--
Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities1--
Minister of Agriculture1--
Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development-1-
Minister of Arts and Culture-1-
Minister of Basic Education1--
Minister of Communications & Digital Technologies1--
Minister of Communications of South Africa-5-
Minister of Community Safety-2-
Minister of Cooperative Governance & Traditional Affairs14-
Minister of Correctional Services1--
Minister of Defence and Military Veterans13-
Minister of Defence of South Africa-4-
Minister of Education-1-
Minister of Education-13
Minister of Electricity and Energy1--
Minister of Employment & Labor1--
Minister of Energy-3-
Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries-11
Minister of Finance (South Africa)16-
Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, & the Environment1--
Minister of Health131
Minister of Higher Education1--
Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation-2-
Minister of Home Affairs1--
Minister of Home Affairs of South Africa-61
Minister of Human Settlements-11
Minister of Human Settlements1--
Minister of International Relations & Cooperation14-
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development121
Minister of Labour-1-
Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources1--
Minister of Mineral Resources-11
Minister of Police131
Minister of Public Enterprises-2-
Minister of Public Service & Admin.1--
Minister of Public Works-3-
Minister of Public Works & Infrastructure1--
Minister of Science and Technology-3-
Minister of Small Business Development12-
Minister of Social Development-11
Minister of Social Development121
Minister of Sport and Recreation-4-
Minister of Sports, Arts, & Culture1--
Minister of State Security-2-
Minister of Tourism14-
Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition22-
Minister of Transport13-
Minister of Transport and Public Works-2-
Minister of Water and Sanitation121
Minister of Women in the Presidency-3-
National legislative branchCurrentEndedStatus unclear
Member of the National Assembly-100389
member of the National Assembly of South Africa-692127
Member of the National Council of Provinces1131
Member of the North West Provincial Legislature39241
Member of the Parliament of South Africa--4
National judicial branchCurrentEndedStatus unclear
Chief Justice of South Africa-4-
Deputy Chief Justice of South Africa-3-
Public Protector-21
Central banking and financial integrityCurrentEndedStatus unclear
Governor of the South African Reserve Bank--1
Governor, South African Reserve Bank1--
Diplomatic rolesCurrentEndedStatus unclear
Ambassador of Angola to South Africa--1
ambassador of Belarus to South Africa-1-
ambassador of Burkina Faso in South Africa--1
ambassador of Cameroon to South Africa--1
ambassador of Canada to South Africa-1-
ambassador of Chile to South Africa--1
ambassador of France to South Africa-11
ambassador of Guinea to South Africa--1
ambassador of Indonesia to South Africa--1
ambassador of Iran to South Africa-11
ambassador of Japan to South Africa--1
ambassador of Kenya to South Africa--1
ambassador of Norway to South Africa--1
ambassador of South Africa--2
ambassador of Spain to South Africa--1
ambassador of Sweden to South Africa--1
ambassador of Zimbabwe to South Africa-21
Ambassador to the US1--
High Comissioner of Mozambique to South Africa-11
High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to South Africa-5-
list of ambassadors of the State of Palestine to South Africa-11
Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations--1
United States Ambassador to South Africa-16

Intergovernmental positions

Number of known occupants
International bodiesCurrentEndedStatus unclear
Permanent Representative to the UN, New York1--

Subnational government positions

Number of known occupants
Subnational head of state or governmentCurrentEndedStatus unclear
Premier of Gauteng-11
Premier of KwaZulu-Natal-11
Premier of Limpopo--1
Premier of Mpumalanga--1
Premier of North West-21
Premier of the Eastern Cape--1
Premier of the Free State-1-
Premier of the Northern Cape--1
Premier of the Western Cape--1
Subnational legislative branchCurrentEndedStatus unclear
Member of Provincial Parliament of Western Cape-833
Member of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature714136
Member of the Free State Legislature-512
Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature815321
Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature80651
Member of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature6429-
Member of the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature4918-
Member of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature30192

Other positions

Number of known occupants
PositionCurrentEndedStatus unclear
Member of the National Assembly389320-
Delegate of the National Council of Provinces5252-
Member of the Western Cape Provincial Legislature4232-
Member of the Free State Provincial Legislature28271
Member of the Executive Committee: Education37-
Member of the Executive Committee: Social Development36-
Party Whip of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature6--
Presiding Officers of the Western Cape Provincial Legislature6--
Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs23-
Member of the Executive Committee: Health41-
Whip of the Western Cape Provincial Legislature-5-
Deputy Minister of Small Business development22-
Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition22-
Deputy Minister of Transport13-
Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation22-
Member of the Executive Committee: Finance22-
Member of the Executive Committee: Finance, Economic Development and Tourism-4-
Member of the Executive Committee: Public Works, Roads and Transport13-
Member of the Executive Committee: Sport, Arts & Culture-4-
Minister of Public Service and Administration13-
Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa-13
Chair Of Chairs of the North West Provincial Legislature12-
Chief Whip of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature21-
Deputy Chief Whip of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature21-
Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development-3-
Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans21-
Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment21-
Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation21-
Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration12-
Deputy Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure12-
Deputy Speaker of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature12-
Deputy Speaker of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature12-
Deputy Speaker of the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature12-
Deputy Speaker of the North West Provincial Legislature-3-
Member of the Executive Committee: Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development12-
Member of the Executive Committee: COGTA, KwaZulu-Natal12-
Member of the Executive Committee: COGTA, Mpumalanga-3-
Member of the Executive Committee: Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, KwaZulu-Natal12-
Member of the Executive Committee: Human Settlements, Eastern Cape-3-
Member of the Executive Committee: Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation-3-
Member of the Executive Committee: Transport, Community Safety and Liaison-3-
Member of the Executive Committee: Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Limpopo-3-
Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies12-
Minister of Health12-
Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure12-
Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture12-
Minister of Tourism12-
Minister of Transport12-
Premier of the North West Provincial Legislature12-
Speaker of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature12-
Speaker of the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature12-
Speaker of the North West Provincial Legislature12-
Chair Of Chairs of the Free State Provincial Legislature11-
Chair Of Committees of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature11-
Chief Whip of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature-2-
Chief Whip of the Western Cape Provincial Legislature-2-
Deputy Chair Of Chairs of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature11-
Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies11-
Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour2--
Deputy Minister of Finance2--
Deputy Minister of Health11-
Deputy Minister of Higher Education2--
Deputy Minister of Human Settlements11-
Deputy Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation-2-
Deputy Minister of Police2--
Deputy Minister of Public Enterprises-2-
Deputy Minister of Social Development11-
Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture11-
Deputy Minister of Tourism11-
Deputy President11-
Deputy Speaker of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature11-
Deputy Speaker of the Free State Provincial Legislature-2-
Deputy Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature11-
Deputy Speaker of the Western Cape Provincial Legislature11-
Leader Of The Opposition of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature-2-
Leader Of The Opposition of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature2--
Member of the Executive Committee: Agriculture and Rural Development-2-
Member of the Executive Committee: Agriculture and Rural Development, Limpopo-2-
Member of the Executive Committee: Agriculture, Gauteng2--
Member Of The Executive Committee: Cogta of the North West Provincial Legislature11-
Member of the Executive Committee: COGTA, Eastern Cape-2-
Member of the Executive Committee: COGTA, North West11-
Member of the Executive Committee: Cultural Affairs and Sport, Western Cape11-
Member of the Executive Committee: Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Limpopo-2-
Member of the Executive Committee: Education, Gauteng-2-
Member of the Executive Committee: Education, Limpopo-2-
Member of the Executive Committee: Education, Western Cape11-
Member Of The Executive Committee: Finance of the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature-2-
Member of the Executive Committee: Finance, KwaZulu-Natal11-
Member Of The Executive Committee: Health of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature11-
Member of the Executive Committee: Health, Western Cape11-
Member of the Executive Committee: Human Settlement and Public Works11-
Member of the Executive Committee: Human Settlements, Mpumalanga11-
Member of the Executive Committee: Mobility, Western Cape11-
Member Of The Executive Committee: Police Oversight And Community Safety of the Western Cape Provincial Legislature11-
Member of the Executive Committee: Roads and Public Works-2-
Member of the Executive Committee: Roads and Transport, Gauteng11-
Member of the Executive Committee: Social Development, Free State-2-
Member of the Executive Committee: Social Development, Gauteng-2-
Member of the Executive Committee: Sports, Culture and Recreation11-
·

What do these numbers mean?

We keep track both if political positions and the individuals who occupy those positions over time. Of course, a person can hold a position for multiple terms, and multiple people can occupy the same position at the same time (e.g. members of parliament).

If a person previously held a position, and currently holds the same position, they are only counted once and recorded under Current. If it is unclear from the source whether they have left the position, they will be counted under Unclear.

How can status be unclear?

Some of the data sources we rely on indicate both past and present holders of political offices. In those cases, a lack of a precise end date for a person's occupancy of a position can mean that we don't know whether they currently hold the position or not. Read more...