Powers and functions of President

(1) The President has the powers entrusted by the Constitution and legislation, including those necessary to perform the functions of Head of State and head of the national executive. (2) The President is responsible for— (a) assenting to and signing Bills; (b) referring a Bill back to the National Assembly for reconsideration of the Bill’s constitutionality; (c) referring a Bill to the Constitutional Court for a decision on the Bill’s constitutionality; (d) summoning the National Assembly, the National Council of Provinces or Parliament to an extraordinary sitting to conduct special business; (e) making any appointments that the Constitution or legislation requires the President to make, other than as head of the national executive; (f) appointing commissions of inquiry; (g) calling a national referendum in terms of an Act of Parliament; (h) receiving and recognising foreign diplomatic and consular representatives; (i) appointing ambassadors, plenipotentiaries, and diplomatic and consular representatives; (j) pardoning or reprieving offenders and remitting any fines, penalties or forfeitures; and (k) conferring honours. [General Note: Honourable tributes instituted in Government Gazette 24155 of 6 December, 2002 and Government Gazette 25213 of 25 July, 2003.]