ICT and Government
NATIONAL, PROVINCIAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA
The Republic of South Africa is a constitutional democracy with a three-tier system of Government. The three tiers are comprised of National, Provincial and Local Government.
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
The President holds executive powers and is both Head of State and Head of Government. The President’s tenure depends on the confidence of Parliament and the executive, legislative and judicial branches are all subject to the supremacy of the Constitution. The superior courts have the power to strike down executive actions and acts of Parliament if they are unconstitutional. Provincial Government forms the second layer and governs the nine provinces of South Africa. The powers of the Provincial Governments are dictated by the National Constitution, which limits them to particular “functional areas”. In some areas, the Provincial Governments’ powers are concurrent with those of the National Government, while in other areas the Provincial Governments have exclusive powers.
