Mandela starts as Prime Minister and is still President

WI South Africa went for a symbolic head of state, like Ireland, Israel and Iceland.

In 1994 Mandela would have been Prime Minister, head of government and it is quite likely that someone like Tutu would be President,

After 1999 Mandela could become head of state.

Would it make any difference?
 
WI South Africa went for a symbolic head of state, like Ireland, Israel and Iceland.

In 1994 Mandela would have been Prime Minister, head of government and it is quite likely that someone like Tutu would be President,

After 1999 Mandela could become head of state.

Would it make any difference?

Tutu wouldn't have been head of state. It is more likely that Mandela would have started off as the symbolic head of state (he was never that keen on being President anyway, he said he was too old, but was persuaded by the rest of the ANC). Thabo Mbeki or Cyril Ramaphosa would have been Prime Minister. This was the de facto situation after '96 anyway, with Mandela acting in a largely ceremonial capacity, and Mbeki taking over the day-to-day running of the country.
 
Tutu wouldn't have been head of state. It is more likely that Mandela would have started off as the symbolic head of state (he was never that keen on being President anyway, he said he was too old, but was persuaded by the rest of the ANC). Thabo Mbeki or Cyril Ramaphosa would have been Prime Minister. This was the de facto situation after '96 anyway, with Mandela acting in a largely ceremonial capacity, and Mbeki taking over the day-to-day running of the country.

Interesting WI along those lines - what if de Klerk and the NNP never pull out of the unity government? If Mandela backs off to be the ceremonial leader with Thabo running things, that potentially gives de Klerk a lot of influence.

Perhaps he tries to use this to save the NP? They were pretty much screwed after the ANC took a really conciliatory line in the 90s.
 
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