government of South Africa

Information about government of South Africa

South Africa

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The Republic of South Africa is a constitutional democracy with a three-tier system of government and an independent judiciary, operating under a Westminster-styled parliamentary system. South Africa's government differs greatly from those of other Commonwealth nations. 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 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.

The government is undertaken by three inter-connected arms of government: All bodies of the South African government are subject to the rule of the Constitution, which is the supreme law in South Africa.

National government

Legislature

Main article: Parliament of South Africa

The legislature makes the laws, and supervises the activities of the other two arms with a view to changing the laws when appropriate. The bicameral Parliament of South Africa consists of the National Assembly (400 seats; members are elected by popular vote under a system of proportional representation to serve five-year terms) and the National Council of Provinces (90 seats, 10 members elected by each of the nine provincial legislatures for five-year terms). The National Assembly is elected using a Proportional Representation system with regional multi member constituencies (MMCs) and one national MMC. Parties put up closed lists for either both parts of the system or for the regional MMCs only. Half of the members of the National Assembly are chosen from nationwide party lists, the other from party lists for each province.

Following the implementation of the new constitution on 3 February 1997 the National Council of Provinces replaced the former Senate with essentially no change in membership and party affiliations, although the new institution's responsibilities have been changed; with the body now having special powers to protect regional interests, including the safeguarding of cultural and linguistic traditions among ethnic minorities. In ordinary legislation, the two chambers have coordinate powers, but all proposals for appropriating revenue or imposing taxes must be introduced in the National Assembly.

Under the prevailing Westminster system, the leader of the political party or coalition of parties that wins a majority of the seats in the National Assembly is named President. The President and the Ministers are responsible to the Parliament, of which they must be elected members. General elections are held at least once every five years. The voter has one vote only for the National Assembly. The last general election was in April 2004.

Enlarge picture
The National Assembly building, located in Cape Town.

National executive

The President, Deputy President, the Speaker of the National Assembly, and the Ministers make up the executive branch of the South African state. Ministers are Members of Parliament who hold a ministerial warrant to perform certain functions of government.

Ministries

Main article: Ministers of the South African Government

Judiciary

Main article: Judiciary of South Africa

The third arm of the central government is an independent judiciary. The Judiciary interprets the laws, using as a basis the laws as enacted and explanatory statements made in the Legislature during the enactment. The legal system is based on Roman-Dutch law and English common law and accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations. The constitution's bill of rights provides for due process including the right to a fair, public trial within a reasonable time of being charged and the right to appeal to a higher court. To achieve this, there are three major tiers of courts:
  • Magistrates Courts - The court where civil cases involving less than R100 000, and cases involving minor crimes, are heard.
  • High Courts - The court of appeal for cases from the magistrates courts, as well as the court where major civil and criminal cases are first heard.
  • Supreme Court - The final court of appeal for matters not pertaining to the constitution.
  • Constitutional Court - The final court of appeal for matters related to the constitution
In addition, there are Magistrates Courts, and provision is made in the constitution for other courts established by or recognised in terms of an Act of Parliament.

Provincial government

Main article: Provinces of South Africa

Local government

''Main article: Municipalities of South Africa

Opposition

In each parliament, the major party holding a majority forms the Government. The major party not holding a majority forms the Opposition.

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South Africa

This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
South Africa

  • Constitution
  • Government
  • Executive

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South Africa

This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
South Africa

  • Constitution
  • Government
  • Executive

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In political science and constitutional law, the executive is the branch of government responsible for the day-to-day management of the state. In many countries, it is referred to simply as the government, but this usage can be confusing in an international context.
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South Africa

This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
South Africa

  • Constitution
  • Government
  • Executive

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Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki (born June 18 1942) is the current President of the Republic of South Africa.<ref name="gcis-profile2004" />

Early years

Born and raised in what is now the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, Mbeki is the son of Govan Mbeki (1910
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South Africa

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Politics and government of
South Africa

  • Constitution
  • Government
  • Executive

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Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka (born 3 November 1955[1]) is the current Deputy President of South Africa. She is the first woman to hold the position and is the highest ranking woman in the history of South Africa.
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South Africa

This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
South Africa

  • Constitution
  • Government
  • Executive

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A legislature is a type of representative deliberative assembly with the power to adopt laws.

Legislatures are known by many names, the most common being parliament and congress, although these terms also have more specific meanings.
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South Africa

This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
South Africa

  • Constitution
  • Government
  • Executive

..... Click the link for more information.
South Africa

This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
South Africa

  • Constitution
  • Government
  • Executive

..... Click the link for more information.
South Africa

This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
South Africa

  • Constitution
  • Government
  • Executive

..... Click the link for more information.
South Africa

This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
South Africa

  • Constitution
  • Government
  • Executive

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Baleka Mbete (born September 24, 1949) is a South African politician and the current Speaker of the South African National Assembly.

She received a teacher's certificate from Lovedale Teachers' College and taught in Durban.
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In office
2006 -
Preceded by
Succeeded by


Political party Democratic Alliance

Helen Zille (9 March, 1951 -) is the Mayor of Cape Town in South Africa's Western Cape province and leader of the Democratic Alliance political
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In office
2006 -
Preceded by
Succeeded by


Political party Democratic Alliance

Helen Zille (9 March, 1951 -) is the Mayor of Cape Town in South Africa's Western Cape province and leader of the Democratic Alliance political
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In office
2007-
Preceded by
Succeeded by


Political party Democratic Alliance
Spouse Andries Botha

Celia-Sandra Botha
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South Africa

This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
South Africa

  • Constitution
  • Government
  • Executive

..... Click the link for more information.
South Africa

This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
South Africa

  • Constitution
  • Government
  • Executive

..... Click the link for more information.
South Africa

This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
South Africa

  • Constitution
  • Government
  • Executive

..... Click the link for more information.
South Africa

This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
South Africa

  • Constitution
  • Government
  • Executive

..... Click the link for more information.
South Africa

This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
South Africa

  • Constitution
  • Government
  • Executive

..... Click the link for more information.
South Africa

This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
South Africa

  • Constitution
  • Government
  • Executive

..... Click the link for more information.
South Africa

This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
South Africa

  • Constitution
  • Government
  • Executive

..... Click the link for more information.
South Africa

This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
South Africa

  • Constitution
  • Government
  • Executive

..... Click the link for more information.
South Africa

This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
South Africa

  • Constitution
  • Government
  • Executive

..... Click the link for more information.
South Africa

This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
South Africa

  • Constitution
  • Government
  • Executive

..... Click the link for more information.
South Africa

This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
South Africa

  • Constitution
  • Government
  • Executive

..... Click the link for more information.


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