1979 South African presidential election

April 2022 none South Africa Flag of South Africa (1928–1994).svg presidential 1978 South African presidential election 1978 1979 6 19 y 1984 South African presidential election 1984 220 seats in the Parliament of South Africa 88.64% 130x130px File:Marais Viljoen (1979).jpg National Party (South Africa) 79.49% Sir De Villiers Graaff 1960.jpg 007BA7 New Republic Party (South Africa) 11.79% 3x4.svg Progressive Federal Party 8.72% State President Marais Viljoen (Acting) National Party (South Africa) Elected State President Marais Viljoen National Party (South Africa) South African presidential election, 1979|300px 300px Results of the election. Viljoen (orange) received 155 votes while Graaf received 23 and Bozzoli 17. Marais Viljoen De Villiers Graaff Guerino Bozzoli 155 23 17 The 1979 South African presidential election pitted the President of the South African Senate Marais Viljoen, backed by the ruling National Party, against the former United Party leader De Villiers Graaff, backed by the New Republic Party, and the Deputy Chancellor of the University of the Witwatersrand, Guerino Bozzoli, supported by the Progressive Federal Party. In accordance with the South African Constitution of 1961, the State President, a largely ceremonial post, was elected by a joint sitting of both houses of the South African Parliament. Both Bozzoli and Graaff had already been candidates for the presidential election of September 1978. The election, following the resignation of State President and former Prime Minister B. J. Vorster less than a year after his election, was won by Marais Viljoen, who had been Acting State President in his capacity as President of the Senate since June 4. The National Party had nominated Viljoen, rather than Transport Minister Lourens Muller, as its candidate on June 14."Govt candidate", Sydney Morning Herald, June 15, 1979, p.5 A joint session both houses of parliament voted along party lines on June 19, 1979, after which Viljoen was sworn in 90 minutes after his election."South Africa Elects New President", Kansas City Star, June 19, 1979, p. 4 Bibliography Category:Presidential elections in South Africa President Category:June 1979 in Africa