Nelson Mandela

Mandela served one term and stepped down in 1999, although the constitution allowed two and he would have won easily. In a continent where founding leaders often stayed on, the decision mattered as much as his election. He handed over to Thabo Mbeki through a normal ANC succession and the 1999 election. South Africa has had peaceful transfers ever since, including the 2024 coalition government formed after the ANC lost its majority.