National Departments
4/8/2014
Page Content The national, provincial and local levels of government all have legislative and executive authority in their own spheres, and are defined in the South African Constitution as "distinctive, interdependent and interrelated". Operating at both national and provincial levels ("spheres") are advisory bodies drawn from South Africa's traditional leaders. It is a stated intention in the Constitution that the country be run on a system of co-operative governance.
All bodies of the South African government are subject to the rule of the Constitution, which is the supreme law in South Africa. The national government is composed of three inter-connected branches:
Legislative: Parliament, consisting of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces
Executive: The President, who is both Head of State and Head of Government
Judicial: The Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court of Appeal, and the High Court
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Department of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is responsible for overseeing and supporting South Africa's agricultural sector, as well as ensuring access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food by the country's population. Department of Defense and Military VeteransThe Department of Military Veterans is a department of the Government of South Africa that is responsible for providing support and services to veterans of the South African military, including veterans of the armed wings of anti-apartheid movements (Umkhonto we Sizwe and APLA). Department of Economic DevelopmentThe Department of Economic Development is the department of the South African government responsible for economic policy, economic planning and economic development. National TreasuryThe National Treasury manages national economic policy, prepares the South African government's annual budget and manages the government's finances. Along with the South African Revenue Service and Statistics South Africa, the Treasury falls within the portfolio of the Minister of Finance. Department of EnergyThe Department of Energy is the department of the South African government responsible for energy policy. Energy policy is the manner in which a given entity (often governmental) has decided to address issues of energy development including energy production, distribution and consumption. The attributes of energy policy may include legislation, international treaties, incentives to investment, guidelines for energy conservation, taxation and other public policy techniques. Department of Environmental AffairsThe Department of Environmental Affairs is responsible for protecting, conserving and improving the South African environment and natural resources. Department of HealthThe Department of Health is the executive department of the South African government which is assigned to health matters. Department of Arts & CultureThe Department of Arts and Culture promotes, supports, develops and protects the arts, culture and heritage of South Africa. The heritage sites, museums and monuments of the country also reside under this ministry Department of Home AffairsThe Department of Home Affairs is responsible for:
• Maintenance of the National Population Register (the civil registry), including the recording of births, marriages/civil partnerships and deaths.
• Issuing identity documents and passports.
• Issuing visas for visitors to South Africa (although visa applications pass through embassies or consulates which are part of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation).
• Manag Department of Human SettlementsThe Department of Human Settlements (formerly the Department of Housing) is responsible for housing and urban development. Its primary purpose is the implementation of the constitutional mandate that "everyone has the right to have access to adequate housing." It works in co-operation with the provincial governments, each of which has its own Human Settlements department, and with the municipalities. Department of International Relations and CooperationThe Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) is the foreign ministry of the South African government. It is responsible for South Africa's relationships with foreign countries and international organizations, and runs South Africa's diplomatic missions. Department of Justice and Constitutional DevelopmentThe Department of Justice and Constitutional Development is the justice ministry of the South African government. The department provides administrative and financial support to the court system and the judiciary (which are constitutionally independent of the executive), oversees the National Prosecuting Authority, provides legal advice and representation to organs of state, and facilitates law reform. Government Communication and Information System (GCIS)The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) is a South African government-owned corporation that is primarily charged with managing public communication of government actions and policy. It falls under the authority of the Ministry in The Presidency, which appoints the CEO of GCIS. Public Service CommissionThe PSC is tasked and empowered to, amongst others, investigate, monitor, and evaluate the organization and administration of the Public Service. Department of LabourThe Department of Labour is responsible for matters related to employment, including industrial relations, job creation, unemployment insurance and occupational health and safety. Department of Mineral ResourcesThe Department of Mineral Resources is responsible for overseeing the mining industry of South Africa and the exploitation of the country's mineral resources. Department of Performance Monitoring and EvaluationThe establishment of the Department of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation is to ensure that performance makes meaningful impact in the lives of our people. The Department, in close cooperation with the National Planning Commission, will play an important role in setting expectations of improved outcomes across government. The Department will drive a results-oriented approach across the three spheres and other organs of state. The Department will review the data architecture of governme Department of PoliceThe Department of Police (formerly the Secretariat for Safety and Security) oversees the South African Police Service and the Independent Complaints Directorate. Department of Public EnterprisesThe Department of Public Enterprises is the governments’ shareholder representative with oversight responsibility for a number of state-owned enterprises (SoEs). Department of Public Service and AdministrationIn terms of the Public Service Act (PSA) of 1994, as amended, the Minister for the Public Service and Administration is responsible for establishing norms and standards relating to;
1. The functions of the public service;
2. Organisational structures and establishments of departments and other organisational and governance arrangements in the public service;
3. Labour relations, conditions of service and other employment practices for employees; Department of Public WorksThe Department of Public Works is responsible for providing accommodation and property management services to all the other ministries of the South African government. It is also responsible for promoting the national Expanded Public Works Programme and for encouraging the transformation of the construction and property industries in South Africa. Independent Police Complaints DirectorateThe Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), formerly the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD), is an agency of the South African government responsible for investigating complaints against the South African Police Service and municipal police services. Statistics South AfricaStatistics South Africa is the national statistical service of South Africa, with the goal of producing timely, accurate, and official statistics in order to advance economic growth, development, and democracy. To this end, Statistics South Africa produces official demographic, economic, and social censuses and surveys. Department of Science and TechnologyThe Department of Science and Technology is the South African government department responsible for scientific research, including space programmes. Department of Social DevelopmentThe Department of Social Development is committed t the agnda of social transformation that is embodied in the principle in the principal of social justice and the Bill of Rights contained in our Constitution. Department of State SecurityThe State Security Agency is the department of the South African government with overall responsibility for civilian intelligence operations. It was created in 2009 to incorporate the formerly-separate National Intelligence Agency, South African Secret Service, South African National Academy of Intelligence, National Communications Centre and COMSEC (South Africa).
Department of CommunicationThe Department of Communication is responsible for overseeing the South African communications, telecommunications and broadcasting industries. Department of TourismThe Department of Tourism is responsible for promoting and developing tourism, both from other countries to South Africa, and within South Africa.
Department of Trade and IndustryThe Department of Trade and Industry is the department of the South African government with responsibility for commercial policy and industrial policy. The DTI and its subsidiary agencies are involved in promoting economic development, Black Economic Empowerment, implementing commercial law (including companies law and intellectual property law), promoting and regulating international trade, and consumer protection. Department of TransportThe Department of Transport is the department of the South African government concerned with transport. Responsibility for transport is constitutionally between the national transport department and the nine provincial transport departments. The national department has exclusive responsibility for national and international airports, national roads, railways and marine transport; the national and provincial departments share responsibility for other airports, public transport, road traffi Department of Water AffairsThe Department of Water Affairs is one of the departments of the South African government. In May 2009, following the election of Jacob Zuma, the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry was divided, with the forestry responsibility being transferred to the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The Department of Water Affairs falls under the responsibility of the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs. National Planning CommissionThe National Planning Commission is a new initiative of government. Chaired by the Minister in The Presidency for National Planning, the NPC will be responsible for developing a draft long term vision and strategic plan for South Africa. The process of developing this draft plan will include discussion and engagement across our country and will also provide opportunities for people to come forward with ideas and suggestions. This draft will be considered by Cabinet and accepted, amended o The PresidencyWith the dawn of democracy in 1994, and the adoption of a new final constitution in1996, a provision was made for an Office of the President, which later became known as The Presidency. Under previous dispensations, the head of government in South Africa were Prime Ministers and State Presidents. The Presidency comprises of four political principals: The President, who is the Head of State and Government, The Deputy President, who is the Leader of Government Business (in Parliament), the Minister of the N Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs is responsible for the relationship between the national government and the provincial governments and municipalities, and for overseeing the traditional leadership of South Africa's indigenous communities. Department of Correctional ServicesThe Department of Correctional Services is responsible for running South Africa's prison system. The prisons include minimum, medium and maximum security facilities.
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