South African constitutional preambles, 1961 → 1996 — the place of God in the founding text

Primary-source comparison. Verbatim opening (and, for 1996, closing) language of each constitution's preamble, with sources. Prepared 25 June 2026.

1961 — Republic of South Africa Constitution Act 32 of 1961

"In humble submission to Almighty God, Who controls the destinies of nations and the history of peoples; Who gathered our forebears together from many lands and gave them this their own; Who has guided them from generation to generation; Who has wondrously delivered them from the dangers that beset them; We, who are here in Parliament assembled, declare that … [we] Are conscious of our responsibility towards God and man …"

Source: Republic of South Africa Constitution Act, 1961 — Wikisource.

1983 — Republic of South Africa Constitution Act 110 of 1983 (Tricameral)

"In humble submission to Almighty God, Who controls the destinies of peoples and nations, Who gathered our forebears together from many lands and gave them this their own, Who has guided them from generation to generation, Who has wondrously delivered them from the dangers that beset them, We declare that we … Are conscious of our responsibility towards God and man; Are convinced of the necessity of standing united and of pursuing the following national goals: To uphold Christian values and civilized norms …"

Source: Republic of South Africa Constitution Act 110 of 1983 — Wikisource; gov.za.

1993 — Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act 200 of 1993 (Interim)

"In humble submission to Almighty God, We, the people of South Africa declare that — Whereas there is a need to create a new order in which all South Africans will be entitled to a common South African citizenship in a sovereign and democratic constitutional state …"

Source: Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act 200 of 1993 (Interim) — justice.gov.za (held in pack as 87-SA-Interim-Constitution-1993.pdf).

1996 — Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act 108 of 1996 (current)

Opening: "We, the people of South Africa, Recognise the injustices of our past; Honour those who suffered for justice and freedom in our land; … Believe that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity. We therefore, through our freely elected representatives, adopt this Constitution as the supreme law of the Republic …"

Closing: "… May God protect our people. Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika. Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso. God seën Suid-Afrika. God bless South Africa. Mudzimu fhatutshedza Afurika. Hosi katekisa Afrika."

Source: Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 — held in pack as 81-SA-Constitution-1996.pdf; gov.za preamble.

What changed — stated accurately. The 1961, 1983 and 1993 (interim) constitutions all opened with the invocation "In humble submission to Almighty God," placing God as the sovereign authority over the State. The 1996 Constitution drops that opening invocation and begins with popular sovereignty — "We, the people of South Africa" — but it does not remove God from the text: its preamble closes with a national blessing, "May God protect our people … God bless South Africa," in all official languages. The shift is from God as authority over the State to a closing blessing — not a total removal.