South Africa

National AssemblyNational Council of Provinces

National Council of Provinces

Political system Political systems: Presidential, Parliamentary, Presidential-Parliamentary, Monarchy, Communist, Transitional.
Parliamentary system
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Structure of parliament Structure of parliament: Unicameral, bicameral
Bicameral
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IPU membership Current membership status
Yes
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Historical data on women

Data on women’s right to vote and to stand for election, the date at which the first woman entered parliament, and female Heads of State or Government

Women's suffrage

Women’s right to vote
Women’s right to vote Year in which women obtained the right to vote
1930
National or local Suffrage: National or Local
National
Restricted or unrestricted suffrage Suffrage: Restricted or Universal
Restricted
Detail of restrictions Suffrage: Restrictions detail
White women only
Women’s right to vote Year in which women obtained the right to vote
1984
National or local Suffrage: National or Local
National
Restricted or unrestricted suffrage Suffrage: Restricted or Universal
Restricted
Detail of restrictions Suffrage: Restrictions detail
Colored and South Africans accorded the right to vote but only for their respective Houses in the tri-cameral parliament
Women’s right to vote Year in which women obtained the right to vote
1994
National or local Suffrage: National or Local
National
Restricted or unrestricted suffrage Suffrage: Restricted or Universal
Universal
Notes Suffrage: Additional Notes on right of suffrage
The right of all South Africans to vote is enshrined in the Bill of Rights of the constitution since 1996 but men and women had exercised this right since 1994.
Women’s right to stand for election
Women's right to stand for election Year in which women obtained the right to stand for election
1930
National or local Stand for Election: National or Local
National
Restricted or unrestricted suffrage Stand for Election : Restricted or Universal
Restricted
Detail of restrictions Stand for Election: Restrictions detail
White women only
Women's right to stand for election Year in which women obtained the right to stand for election
1984
National or local Stand for Election: National or Local
National
Restricted or unrestricted suffrage Stand for Election : Restricted or Universal
Restricted
Detail of restrictions Stand for Election: Restrictions detail
Colored and South Africans accorded the right to vote but only for their respective Houses in the tri-cameral parliament
Women's right to stand for election Year in which women obtained the right to stand for election
1994
National or local Stand for Election: National or Local
National
Restricted or unrestricted suffrage Stand for Election : Restricted or Universal
Universal
Notes Stand for Election: Additional Notes on right to stand for election
The right of all South Africans to vote is enshrined in the Bill of Rights of the constitution since 1996 but men and women had exercised this right since 1994.
First woman in parliament
First woman in parliament Year in which first woman entered parliament
1933
First woman speaker
Year of first woman speaker Date at which, for the first time in the country's parliamentary history, a woman became Presiding Officer of Parliament or of one of its Houses.
1994