South Africa · Government
Government and administration in South Africa
How the executive, legislature and administrative state are organised, and which body is responsible for what.
The three branches
- Executive — President and Cabinet
- President elected by the National Assembly.
- Legislative — National Assembly and National Council of Provinces
- 400 members; 90 provincial delegates.
- Judicial — Constitutional Court and superior courts
- Judges appointed on JSC advice.
- Oversight — Chapter 9 institutions
- Public Protector, SAHRC, Auditor-General and others.
How legislation is made
Bills are tagged by subject matter, pass the National Assembly and, where provinces are affected, the NCOP, before presidential assent; the President may refer a bill to the Constitutional Court.
Enforcement institutions
- National Prosecuting Authority
- Single national prosecuting service.
- South African Police Service
- National police force including the Hawks (DPCI).
- Public Protector
- Investigates improper state conduct.
Government bodies and regulators
- executiveDepartment of Justice and Constitutional DevelopmentAdministers courts, maintenance, deceased estates and masters’ offices.
- executiveDepartment of Home AffairsManages civil registration, identity documents and immigration.
- executiveSouth African Revenue ServiceCollects national taxes and customs duties.
- independentInformation RegulatorEnforces POPIA and the Promotion of Access to Information Act.
- independentCommission for Conciliation, Mediation and ArbitrationResolves employment disputes free of charge.
- independentCompanies and Intellectual Property CommissionRegisters companies, co-operatives and intellectual property.
- independentCompetition CommissionInvestigates prohibited practices and reviews mergers.
- independentPublic ProtectorInvestigates improper conduct in state affairs.
- executiveDepartment of Employment and LabourAdministers labour legislation, inspections and the national minimum wage.
- executiveDeeds RegistriesRegisters title to land and real rights.
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