South African Government Machinery The National Government of South Africa is comprised of Parliament, Cabinet and various Departments. These components carry out functions as outlined in the Constitution and in legislation enacted by Parliament. The National Government Departments The Departments that make up the national administration are charged with implementing legislation and providing services to the public. In 2003, an overall budget of R334 billion was made available for this purpose. Back to top The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act 108 of 1996) came into effect on 4 February 1997. This is the highest law in South Africa and no other law or government action can overrule the Constitution or be in conflict with it. South Africa's Constitution is one of the most progressive in the world and is based on the values of dignity, equality and freedom. Chapter 2 of the Constitution contains the Bill of Rights The South African Parliament The South African Parliament is responsible for creating and amending the countries laws in accordance with the Constitution. It consists of two parts, the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) The National Assembly consists of 400 elected representatives who meet at the Houses of Parliament in Cape Town, to debate issues and create legislation. The National Council of Provinces consists of 54 permanent members and 36 special delegates representing the nine provinces. The NCOP represents provincial interests in the national sphere of government. Cabinet The executive arm of national government is headed up by the Cabinet which consists of the President, the Deputy President and various Ministers appointed by the President from the National Assembly. The President also determines which functions each of the Ministers will perform. The Cabinet members currently are: Back to top Overview of South Africa South Africa consists of 1 219 090 km² at the southern-most tip of Africa. There is a population of approximately 44.8 million people. South Africa is characterised by the diversity of its people in terms of race, culture and religion. This is reflected in the 11 national languages protected by the South African Constitution. The country is divided into nine provinces, each with its own provincial parliament and administration. The nine provinces are: - Limpopo
- Free State
- Gauteng
- Northern Cape
- KwaZulu-Natal
- Mpumalanga
- Western Cape
- Eastern Cape
- North West
For more information on South Africa, consult the South Africa Yearbook 2003/2004. WEBSITE: www.gov.za Back to top
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