South AfricaZA

Article 90 of the Constitution of South Africa

Article
90
Chapter
CHAPTER 4 — PARLIAMENT
Index row title
(1) When the President is absent from the Republic or otherwise unable to fulfil the duties of President, or during a vacancy in the office of President, an office-bearer in
Source document
The South Africa Constitution
Provision ID
98378629-e8a2-450d-976a-76e9660fc72d

165 words

Verbatim text

duties of President, or during a vacancy in the office of President, an office-bearer in the order below acts as President: (a) The Deputy President. (b) A Minister designated by the President. (c) A Minister designated by the other members of the Cabinet. (d) The Speaker, until the National Assembly designates one of its other members. (2) An Acting President has the responsibilities, powers and functions of the President. (3) Before assuming the responsibilities, powers and functions of the President, the Acting President must swear or affirm faithfulness to the Republic and obedience to the Constitution, in accordance with Schedule 2. (4) A person who as Acting President has sworn or affirmed faithfulness to the Republic need not repeat the swearing or affirming procedure for any subsequent term as Acting President during the period ending when the person next elected President assumes office. [Sub-s. (4) added by s. 1 of the Constitution First Amendment Act of 1997 ]Chapter 5: The President and National Executive Cabinet

What this means

  • The index files this text under article 90 of the Constitution of South Africa.
  • The index files it under the chapter heading “CHAPTER 4 — PARLIAMENT”.
  • The passage runs to about 165 words.
  • Read plainly, it mentions assembly and association — it protects gathering together or joining a group, union or party (the words used: “Assembly”).

The row’s stored title is a body fragment, not a heading (“(1) When the President is absent from the Republic or otherwise unable to fulfil the duties of President, or during a vacancy in the office of President, an office-bearer in”), so it is not used as the provision’s title here.

The index gives this passage an article number but stores a body fragment where a heading would be, so the number could not be cross-checked against the text. Check it against the official Constitution before relying on it in a citation.

This is a mechanical reading aid generated from the text above by matching words in it. It is not legal advice, not a lawyer’s interpretation, and not a substitute for the provision itself.

How to cite this

Constitution of South Africa, article 90, Portable Lawyer, https://www.portablelawyer.app/provision/98378629-e8a2-450d-976a-76e9660fc72d (accessed 25 October 2026).

Canonical URL: https://www.portablelawyer.app/provision/98378629-e8a2-450d-976a-76e9660fc72d

Accessed 25 October 2026.

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