what is the political system in south africa?
Parliamentary republic
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 From the time that European settlers first arrived in South Africa in 1652 , the country was divided on racial lines , in common with similar settlements . In contrast to other European colonies , racial distinction and segregation intensified during the early 20th century , and the various ethnic groups became more sharply defined and divided . Following its general election victory in 1948 , the National Party , led by Daniel Malan , formalised this racism under a government policy called apartheid . Under apartheid , different races were kept apart in all aspects of life . This system was thoroughly enforced during the 1950s ; any resistance from non @-@ white races was put down and laws , supposedly to prevent the rise of communism , were passed to prevent political agitation . 

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 South Africa has a parliamentary system of government ; the National Assembly consists of 400 members elected by proportional representation with a closed list approach . Two hundred members are elected from national party lists ; the other 200 are elected from provincial party lists in each of the nine provinces . The President of South Africa was chosen by the National Assembly after the election . 

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 Following the Bisho massacre , in which 28 ANC supporters and one soldier were shot dead by the Ciskei Defence Force during a protest march , Mandela realised that mass action was leading to further violence and resumed negotiations in September . He agreed to do so on the conditions that all political prisoners be released , that Zulu traditional weapons be banned , and that Zulu hostels would be fenced off , the latter two measures intended to prevent further Inkatha attacks ; de Klerk reluctantly agreed . The negotiations agreed that a multiracial general election would be held , resulting in a five @-@ year coalition government of national unity and a constitutional assembly that gave the National Party continuing influence . The ANC also conceded to safeguarding the jobs of white civil servants ; such concessions brought fierce internal criticism . The duo agreed on an interim constitution based on a liberal democratic model , guaranteeing separation of powers , creating a constitutional court , and including a U.S.-style bill of rights ; it also divided the country into nine provinces , each with its own premier and civil service , a concession between de Klerk 's desire for federalism and Mandela 's for unitary government . 

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 British policy in South Africa was to encourage federation between the British @-@ run Cape Colony and Natal , and the Boer republics , the Transvaal ( annexed by Britain in 1877 ) and the Orange Free State . The governor of Cape Colony , Sir Bartle Frere , believing that the federation could not be accomplished until the native tribes acknowledged British rule , made demands on the Zulu and their king , Cetewayo , which they were certain to reject . As Zulu troops could not marry until they had washed their spears in blood , they were eager for combat . Frere did not send word to the cabinet of what he had done until the ultimatum was about to expire . Disraeli and the cabinet reluctantly backed him , and in early January 1879 resolved to send reinforcements . Before they could arrive , on 22 January , a Zulu impi , or army , moving with great speed and stealth , ambushed and destroyed a British encampment in South Africa in the Battle of Isandlwana . Over a thousand British and colonial troops were killed . Word of the defeat did not reach London until 12 February . Disraeli wrote the next day , " the terrible disaster has shaken me to the centre " . He reprimanded Frere , but left him in charge , attracting fire from all sides . Disraeli sent General Sir Garnet Wolseley as High Commissioner and Commander in Chief , and Cetewayo and the Zulus were crushed at the Battle of Ulundi on 4 July 1879 . 

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 Following the Unilateral Declaration of Independence by the mostly white minority government of Rhodesia ( or Southern Rhodesia ) from the United Kingdom in 1965 , the southern African country entered a period of international isolation as an unrecognised state under Ian Smith . Black nationalist movements , backed by communist powers and themselves variously Marxist – Leninist , launched military campaigns to overthrow Rhodesia 's government and bring majority rule to the country ; the main nationalist groups were the Zimbabwe African National Union ( ZANU ) , which was Chinese @-@ backed , mostly Shona and influenced by Maoism , and the rival Zimbabwe African People 's Union ( ZAPU ) , which was largely Ndebele , more orthodoxly Marxist – Leninist and supported by the Warsaw Pact and associated nations , prominently Cuba . Each nationalist group fielded a guerrilla army — ZANU 's was called the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army ( ZANLA ) , while ZAPU 's was the Zimbabwe People 's Revolutionary Army ( ZIPRA ) . ZAPU was led by Joshua Nkomo , a trade unionist from Bulawayo in Matabeleland , while ZANU was headed from 1975 by a former teacher from Mashonaland , Robert Mugabe . 
