48:
1856:
1734:
1192:
1085:
1777:
1402:
658:
1613:
1345:
883:
The
Premier and the Executive Council are responsible for implementing provincial legislation, along with any national legislation assigned to the provinces. They set provincial policy and manage the departments of the provincial government; their actions are subject to the national constitution and
712:
is the head of the provincial government. This position mirrors the president's role at the national level, functioning as the chief executive and leading the province's executive council. Premiers are chosen by members of the provincial legislature, typically from the dominant political party.
887:
In order for an act of the provincial legislature to become law, the
Premier must sign it. If the Premier believes that the act is unconstitutional, it can be referred back to the legislature for reconsideration. If the Premier and the legislature cannot agree, the act must be referred to the
754:
South Africa's three-tier system of government – national, provincial, and local – necessitates a complex web of relationships to ensure smooth operation. Premiers, as heads of provincial governments, play a crucial role in intergovernmental relations.
763:
The South
African Constitution emphasizes cooperative governance as a core principle. This means all spheres of government – national, provincial, and local – have a legal obligation to work together for the collective good of the country.
767:
Premiers play a vital role in fostering this cooperation within their provinces. They convene
Premier's Inter-governmental Forums (PIFs), bringing together local government representatives (mayors) and provincial-level officials (MECs).
742:) into a unified South Africa. These "homelands" were territories designated for specific racial groups under apartheid. Their inclusion aimed to dismantle the spatial segregation enforced by the apartheid regime.
745:
To ensure democratic representation at this new provincial level, the position of
Premier was created. Premiers became the elected leaders responsible for heading their respective provincial governments.
880:
is the only province where MECs are known as
Provincial Ministers and the Executive Council is known as the Provincial Cabinet, in terms of Section 42 of the Constitution of the Western Cape, 1997.
721:
The concept of
Premiers in South Africa is directly linked to the establishment of the country's current nine-province system in 1994. This marked a dramatic shift from the previous apartheid era:
1820:
929:. At the first meeting of the provincial legislature after an election, the members choose the Premier from amongst themselves. The legislature can force the Premier to resign by a
724:
Prior to 1994, South Africa consisted of four provinces governed by administrators appointed by the central government. These provinces were established during the formation of the
1765:
793:
Premiers maintain regular communication with the
President and national ministers (through bodies like the Ministerial and Member of the Executive Council Meetings – MINMECs).
1743:
1830:
1815:
1875:
566:
1459:
1810:
492:
1758:
576:
497:
413:
1835:
713:
Similar to the
President and national cabinet, the Premier appoints Members of the Executive Council (MECs) to oversee various provincial departments.
695:
1840:
933:. If the Premiership becomes vacant (for whatever reason) the legislature must choose a new Premier to serve out the period until the next election.
120:
1845:
164:
1953:
1825:
1773:
1751:
1557:
639:
66:
1805:
1584:
732:
115:
790:
The national government sets the overall policy framework for the country. However, provinces have some legislative and executive autonomy.
1943:
533:
847:
Dispute
Resolution Mechanisms: These mechanisms, often involving mediation or litigation, aim to reach solutions when disagreements occur.
1948:
1922:
515:
511:
1870:
581:
425:
455:
438:
1552:
844:
Intergovernmental Relations Act: This act provides a framework for cooperation and conflict resolution between government spheres.
1800:
416:
239:
176:
688:
410:
396:
393:
390:
387:
384:
668:
1891:
918:
1901:
889:
471:
460:
257:
234:
217:
145:
1440:
1435:
1383:
1378:
1287:
1280:
1275:
1230:
1225:
1173:
1168:
1066:
1061:
1023:
1016:
1011:
926:
370:
367:
364:
361:
358:
355:
352:
349:
346:
343:
340:
337:
334:
331:
328:
325:
322:
319:
316:
313:
310:
307:
304:
301:
298:
295:
292:
289:
1423:
1577:
922:
681:
485:
159:
861:
98:
865:
262:
877:
467:
902:
634:
561:
523:
205:
140:
1705:
1570:
1359:
1338:
857:
644:
604:
556:
59:
1522:
1714:
1630:
1416:
1395:
992:
538:
806:
Joint problem-solving for national issues with provincial dimensions (e.g., infrastructure development).
906:
609:
252:
133:
79:
876:
at the provincial level. The Premier has the power to hire and fire MECs at their own discretion. The
738:
A key aspect of this change was the creation of nine provinces, incorporating the former "homelands" (
1896:
1782:
1639:
1598:
1482:
1366:
1313:
1263:
1213:
1106:
1049:
1042:
1028:
999:
709:
619:
450:
445:
277:
198:
86:
1663:
1501:
1477:
1149:
1137:
586:
571:
33:
978:
930:
735:
and the first democratic elections in 1994 led to a significant restructuring of the government.
150:
110:
1562:
1643:
1036:
629:
528:
229:
1855:
1733:
1696:
1681:
1306:
1292:
1256:
1242:
1156:
869:
725:
749:
873:
860:, the executive authority of a province is vested in the Premier. The Premier appoints an
47:
8:
662:
624:
614:
1672:
1648:
1206:
1185:
1099:
1078:
837:
South Africa has established various mechanisms to address intergovernmental disputes.
1191:
815:
Despite the emphasis on cooperation, tensions can arise between levels of government.
1676:
1200:
1300:
245:
91:
864:
made up of five to ten members of the provincial legislature; they are known as
1652:
1634:
1093:
986:
103:
1084:
1937:
1917:
1700:
1685:
1333:
1250:
1132:
501:
803:
Sharing best practices and expertise between national and provincial levels.
800:
Negotiation and consultation on national policies that impact the provinces.
1786:
1776:
1602:
1390:
973:
222:
169:
1709:
1667:
1353:
1144:
750:
Relations Between Premiers and Other Levels of Government in South Africa
181:
1718:
1612:
1410:
1401:
1237:
897:
739:
210:
921:
are held every five years, simultaneously with the election of the
1592:
1472:
1180:
1073:
1502:"CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA : Provinces"
825:
Disagreements on policy implementation at the provincial level.
775:
Discussing and coordinating broad provincial development plans.
1457:
1344:
909:, as one of the special delegates from his or her province.
1429:
1372:
1319:
1269:
1219:
1162:
1124:
1118:
1112:
1055:
1005:
1299:
822:
Disputes over national funding allocations to provinces.
1035:
832:
493:
Department of International Relations and Cooperation
778:
Aligning provincial and local government strategies.
1199:
828:Competition for resources and political influence.
985:
1935:
1249:
785:
1092:
884:the provincial constitution (if there is one).
1409:
1352:
16:Head of government of a South African province
1759:
1578:
689:
858:Constitution of the Republic of South Africa
936:
1766:
1752:
1585:
1571:
810:
696:
682:
758:
26:This article is part of a series on the
1954:Provincial governments of South Africa
1936:
1747:
1566:
781:Addressing issues of common interest.
1944:Premiers of South African provinces
13:
1949:Lists of provinces of South Africa
1523:"Constitution of the Western Cape"
1400:
1343:
1190:
1083:
833:Mechanisms for Addressing Tensions
46:
14:
1965:
1546:
868:(MECs). The MECs are effectively
1854:
1775:
1732:
1611:
866:Members of the Executive Council
656:
1515:
1494:
1:
1488:
1428:5 years, 129 days (
1371:5 years, 129 days (
1004:5 years, 129 days (
903:National Council of Provinces
786:National-Provincial Relations
771:PIFs serve as platforms for:
716:
635:Politics of the Northern Cape
141:National Council of Provinces
1553:List of Premiers by province
1111:1 year, 358 days (
872:and the Executive Council a
645:Politics of the Western Cape
605:Politics of the Eastern Cape
7:
1923:Vehicle registration plates
1466:
1448:
912:
10:
1970:
610:Politics of the Free State
1910:
1863:
1852:
1793:
1730:
1618:
1609:
1558:Photo gallery of Premiers
1483:Provinces of South Africa
958:
925:; the last such election
620:Politics of KwaZulu-Natal
456:Metropolitan municipality
1478:Politics of South Africa
937:List of current premiers
733:dismantling of apartheid
710:South Africa's provinces
567:Political assassinations
439:Administrative divisions
177:Leader of the Opposition
1530:Western Cape Government
931:motion of no confidence
927:occurred on 29 May 2024
919:provincial legislatures
917:Elections for the nine
851:
811:Challenges and Tensions
663:South Africa portal
240:Supreme Court of Appeal
151:Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane
1781:Lists relating to the
1644:Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae
1405:
1348:
1195:
1088:
1037:Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae
968:Current mandate began
892:for a final decision.
759:Cooperative Governance
640:Politics of North West
630:Politics of Mpumalanga
512:Diplomatic missions of
51:
1811:by population density
1404:
1347:
1194:
1087:
905:, the upper house of
818:These might involve:
726:Union of South Africa
461:District municipality
50:
965:First mandate began
895:The Premier is also
890:Constitutional Court
235:Constitutional Court
218:Deputy Chief Justice
625:Politics of Limpopo
615:Politics of Gauteng
599:Provincial politics
258:Magistrate's courts
1836:by life expectancy
1624:
1406:
1349:
1196:
1089:
52:
1931:
1930:
1841:by fertility rate
1821:by GDP per capita
1741:
1740:
1727:
1726:
1464:
1463:
1446:
1445:
1127:2022 Designation
1121:2022 Designation
923:National Assembly
862:Executive Council
796:This allows for:
706:
705:
534:Visa requirements
486:Foreign relations
426:Political parties
160:National Assembly
37:
1961:
1918:ISO 3166-2 codes
1887:
1879:
1858:
1846:by highest point
1780:
1779:
1768:
1761:
1754:
1745:
1744:
1736:
1677:Phophi Ramathuba
1621:
1620:
1615:
1587:
1580:
1573:
1564:
1563:
1541:
1540:
1538:
1536:
1527:
1519:
1513:
1512:
1510:
1508:
1498:
1453:
1452:
1431:
1413:
1374:
1356:
1321:
1303:
1271:
1253:
1221:
1203:
1201:Phophi Ramathuba
1164:
1126:
1120:
1114:
1096:
1057:
1039:
1007:
989:
941:
940:
901:a member of the
856:In terms of the
698:
691:
684:
661:
660:
659:
419:
399:
373:
99:Deputy President
40:
35:
27:
21:
20:
1969:
1968:
1964:
1963:
1962:
1960:
1959:
1958:
1934:
1933:
1932:
1927:
1906:
1885:
1877:
1876:Administrators
1859:
1850:
1826:by poverty rate
1789:
1774:
1772:
1742:
1737:
1728:
1723:
1690:
1657:
1616:
1605:
1591:
1549:
1544:
1534:
1532:
1525:
1521:
1520:
1516:
1506:
1504:
1500:
1499:
1495:
1491:
1469:
1460:
1458:
1451:
1318:106 days (
1301:Lazarus Mokgosi
1268:106 days (
1218:106 days (
1161:106 days (
1054:106 days (
939:
915:
854:
840:These include:
835:
813:
788:
761:
752:
719:
702:
673:
669:Other countries
657:
655:
650:
649:
600:
592:
591:
552:
544:
543:
524:Nationality law
520:
516:in South Africa
508:
488:
478:
477:
441:
431:
430:
420:
409:
400:
383:
374:
288:
280:
270:
269:
263:Electoral Court
246:Mahube Molemela
201:
191:
190:
136:
126:
125:
92:Cyril Ramaphosa
82:
72:
71:
62:
38:
34:
25:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1967:
1957:
1956:
1951:
1946:
1929:
1928:
1926:
1925:
1920:
1914:
1912:
1908:
1907:
1905:
1904:
1902:Municipalities
1899:
1894:
1889:
1881:
1873:
1867:
1865:
1861:
1860:
1853:
1851:
1849:
1848:
1843:
1838:
1833:
1828:
1823:
1818:
1813:
1808:
1803:
1797:
1795:
1791:
1790:
1771:
1770:
1763:
1756:
1748:
1739:
1738:
1731:
1729:
1725:
1724:
1722:
1721:
1712:
1703:
1693:
1691:
1689:
1688:
1679:
1670:
1660:
1658:
1656:
1655:
1653:Panyaza Lesufi
1646:
1637:
1635:Oscar Mabuyane
1627:
1625:
1619:
1617:
1610:
1607:
1606:
1590:
1589:
1582:
1575:
1567:
1561:
1560:
1555:
1548:
1547:External links
1545:
1543:
1542:
1514:
1492:
1490:
1487:
1486:
1485:
1480:
1475:
1468:
1465:
1462:
1461:
1456:
1450:
1447:
1444:
1443:
1438:
1433:
1426:
1421:
1419:
1414:
1407:
1398:
1393:
1387:
1386:
1381:
1376:
1369:
1364:
1362:
1357:
1350:
1341:
1336:
1330:
1329:
1328:2024 election
1326:
1325:2024 election
1323:
1316:
1311:
1309:
1304:
1297:
1295:
1290:
1284:
1283:
1278:
1273:
1266:
1261:
1259:
1254:
1247:
1245:
1240:
1234:
1233:
1228:
1223:
1216:
1211:
1209:
1204:
1197:
1188:
1183:
1177:
1176:
1171:
1166:
1159:
1154:
1152:
1147:
1142:
1140:
1135:
1129:
1128:
1125:6 October 2022
1122:
1119:6 October 2022
1116:
1113:6 October 2022
1109:
1104:
1102:
1097:
1094:Panyaza Lesufi
1090:
1081:
1076:
1070:
1069:
1064:
1059:
1052:
1047:
1045:
1040:
1033:
1031:
1026:
1020:
1019:
1014:
1009:
1002:
997:
995:
990:
987:Oscar Mabuyane
983:
981:
976:
970:
969:
966:
963:
960:
957:
954:
951:
948:
945:
938:
935:
914:
911:
853:
850:
849:
848:
845:
834:
831:
830:
829:
826:
823:
812:
809:
808:
807:
804:
801:
787:
784:
783:
782:
779:
776:
760:
757:
751:
748:
718:
715:
704:
703:
701:
700:
693:
686:
678:
675:
674:
672:
671:
665:
652:
651:
648:
647:
642:
637:
632:
627:
622:
617:
612:
607:
601:
598:
597:
594:
593:
590:
589:
584:
582:Social Welfare
579:
574:
569:
564:
559:
553:
551:Related topics
550:
549:
546:
545:
542:
541:
536:
531:
526:
519:
518:
507:
506:
505:
504:
489:
484:
483:
480:
479:
476:
475:
468:Municipalities
465:
464:
463:
458:
448:
442:
437:
436:
433:
432:
429:
428:
423:
422:
421:
408:
403:
402:
401:
382:
377:
376:
375:
287:
281:
276:
275:
272:
271:
268:
267:
266:
265:
260:
255:
250:
249:
248:
237:
227:
226:
225:
215:
214:
213:
202:
197:
196:
193:
192:
189:
188:
187:
186:
185:
184:
174:
173:
172:
157:
156:
155:
154:
153:
137:
132:
131:
128:
127:
124:
123:
121:Shadow Cabinet
118:
113:
108:
107:
106:
104:Paul Mashatile
96:
95:
94:
83:
78:
77:
74:
73:
70:
69:
67:Bill of Rights
63:
58:
57:
54:
53:
43:
42:
30:
29:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1966:
1955:
1952:
1950:
1947:
1945:
1942:
1941:
1939:
1924:
1921:
1919:
1916:
1915:
1913:
1909:
1903:
1900:
1898:
1895:
1893:
1890:
1888:
1882:
1880:
1874:
1872:
1869:
1868:
1866:
1862:
1857:
1847:
1844:
1842:
1839:
1837:
1834:
1832:
1829:
1827:
1824:
1822:
1819:
1817:
1814:
1812:
1809:
1807:
1806:by population
1804:
1802:
1799:
1798:
1796:
1792:
1788:
1784:
1778:
1769:
1764:
1762:
1757:
1755:
1750:
1749:
1746:
1735:
1720:
1716:
1713:
1711:
1707:
1704:
1702:
1701:Lazzy Mokgosi
1698:
1695:
1694:
1692:
1687:
1686:Mandla Ndlovu
1683:
1680:
1678:
1674:
1671:
1669:
1665:
1662:
1661:
1659:
1654:
1650:
1647:
1645:
1641:
1638:
1636:
1632:
1629:
1628:
1626:
1623:
1622:
1614:
1608:
1604:
1600:
1596:
1588:
1583:
1581:
1576:
1574:
1569:
1568:
1565:
1559:
1556:
1554:
1551:
1550:
1531:
1524:
1518:
1503:
1497:
1493:
1484:
1481:
1479:
1476:
1474:
1471:
1470:
1455:
1454:
1442:
1441:2024 Election
1439:
1437:
1436:2019 Election
1434:
1427:
1425:
1422:
1420:
1418:
1415:
1412:
1408:
1403:
1399:
1397:
1394:
1392:
1389:
1388:
1385:
1384:2024 Election
1382:
1380:
1379:2019 Election
1377:
1370:
1368:
1365:
1363:
1361:
1358:
1355:
1351:
1346:
1342:
1340:
1337:
1335:
1334:Northern Cape
1332:
1331:
1327:
1324:
1317:
1315:
1312:
1310:
1308:
1305:
1302:
1298:
1296:
1294:
1291:
1289:
1286:
1285:
1282:
1281:2024 Election
1279:
1277:
1276:2024 Election
1274:
1267:
1265:
1262:
1260:
1258:
1255:
1252:
1251:Mandla Ndlovu
1248:
1246:
1244:
1241:
1239:
1236:
1235:
1232:
1231:2024 Election
1229:
1227:
1226:2024 Election
1224:
1217:
1215:
1212:
1210:
1208:
1205:
1202:
1198:
1193:
1189:
1187:
1184:
1182:
1179:
1178:
1175:
1174:2024 Election
1172:
1170:
1169:2024 Election
1167:
1160:
1158:
1155:
1153:
1151:
1148:
1146:
1143:
1141:
1139:
1136:
1134:
1133:KwaZulu-Natal
1131:
1130:
1123:
1117:
1110:
1108:
1105:
1103:
1101:
1098:
1095:
1091:
1086:
1082:
1080:
1077:
1075:
1072:
1071:
1068:
1067:2024 Election
1065:
1063:
1062:2024 Election
1060:
1053:
1051:
1048:
1046:
1044:
1041:
1038:
1034:
1032:
1030:
1027:
1025:
1022:
1021:
1018:
1017:2024 Election
1015:
1013:
1012:2019 Election
1010:
1003:
1001:
998:
996:
994:
991:
988:
984:
982:
980:
977:
975:
972:
971:
967:
964:
961:
955:
952:
949:
946:
943:
942:
934:
932:
928:
924:
920:
910:
908:
904:
900:
899:
893:
891:
885:
881:
879:
875:
871:
867:
863:
859:
846:
843:
842:
841:
838:
827:
824:
821:
820:
819:
816:
805:
802:
799:
798:
797:
794:
791:
780:
777:
774:
773:
772:
769:
765:
756:
747:
743:
741:
736:
734:
729:
727:
722:
714:
711:
708:A premier in
699:
694:
692:
687:
685:
680:
679:
677:
676:
670:
667:
666:
664:
654:
653:
646:
643:
641:
638:
636:
633:
631:
628:
626:
623:
621:
618:
616:
613:
611:
608:
606:
603:
602:
596:
595:
588:
585:
583:
580:
578:
575:
573:
570:
568:
565:
563:
562:National debt
560:
558:
555:
554:
548:
547:
540:
537:
535:
532:
530:
527:
525:
522:
521:
517:
513:
510:
509:
503:
502:Naledi Pandor
499:
496:
495:
494:
491:
490:
487:
482:
481:
473:
469:
466:
462:
459:
457:
454:
453:
452:
449:
447:
444:
443:
440:
435:
434:
427:
424:
418:
415:
412:
407:
406:
404:
398:
395:
392:
389:
386:
381:
380:
378:
372:
369:
366:
363:
360:
357:
354:
351:
348:
345:
342:
339:
336:
333:
330:
327:
324:
321:
318:
315:
312:
309:
306:
303:
300:
297:
294:
291:
286:
285:
283:
282:
279:
274:
273:
264:
261:
259:
256:
254:
251:
247:
243:
242:
241:
238:
236:
233:
232:
231:
228:
224:
221:
220:
219:
216:
212:
209:
208:
207:
206:Chief Justice
204:
203:
200:
195:
194:
183:
180:
179:
178:
175:
171:
168:
167:
166:
163:
162:
161:
158:
152:
149:
148:
147:
144:
143:
142:
139:
138:
135:
130:
129:
122:
119:
117:
114:
112:
109:
105:
102:
101:
100:
97:
93:
90:
89:
88:
85:
84:
81:
76:
75:
68:
65:
64:
61:
56:
55:
49:
45:
44:
41:
32:
31:
28:
23:
22:
19:
1892:Legislatures
1886:(since 1994)
1883:
1787:South Africa
1603:South Africa
1594:
1533:. Retrieved
1529:
1517:
1505:. Retrieved
1496:
1391:Western Cape
1320:14 June 2024
1270:14 June 2024
1220:14 June 2024
1163:14 June 2024
1056:14 June 2024
974:Eastern Cape
916:
896:
894:
886:
882:
878:Western Cape
855:
839:
836:
817:
814:
795:
792:
789:
770:
766:
762:
753:
744:
737:
730:
723:
720:
707:
557:Human rights
405:Referendums
223:Mandisa Maya
170:Thoko Didiza
60:Constitution
39:South Africa
24:
18:
1878:(1910–1994)
1710:Zamani Saul
1668:Thami Ntuli
1430:22 May 2019
1373:22 May 2019
1354:Zamani Saul
1145:Thami Ntuli
1006:22 May 2019
962:Incumbency
539:Visa policy
244:President:
182:John Hlophe
146:Chairperson
134:Legislature
116:Departments
36:Politics of
1938:Categories
1719:Alan Winde
1489:References
1411:Alan Winde
1288:North West
1238:Mpumalanga
1024:Free State
907:Parliament
898:ex officio
740:Bantustans
717:Background
577:Repression
379:Municipal
253:High Court
1897:Districts
1884:Premiers
1864:Political
1783:provinces
1599:provinces
1535:5 October
950:Portrait
944:Province
870:ministers
728:in 1910.
451:Districts
446:Provinces
278:Elections
211:Ray Zondo
199:Judiciary
87:President
80:Executive
1871:Capitals
1595:Premiers
1593:Current
1507:26 April
1467:See also
1449:Timeline
913:Election
587:Taxation
572:Protests
529:Passport
498:Minister
284:General
1801:by area
1473:Premier
1396:Premier
1339:Premier
1293:Premier
1243:Premier
1186:Premier
1181:Limpopo
1138:Premier
1079:Premier
1074:Gauteng
1029:Premier
979:Premier
874:cabinet
165:Speaker
111:Cabinet
1831:by HDI
1816:by GDP
1794:Ranked
959:Party
956:Order
947:Title
230:Courts
1911:Other
1526:(PDF)
953:Name
1537:2023
1509:2024
852:Role
731:The
472:list
417:1992
414:1983
411:1960
397:2021
394:2016
391:2011
388:2006
385:2000
371:2024
368:2019
365:2014
362:2009
359:2004
356:1999
353:1994
350:1989
347:1987
344:1984
341:1981
338:1977
335:1974
332:1970
329:1966
326:1961
323:1958
320:1953
317:1948
314:1943
311:1938
308:1933
305:1929
302:1924
299:1921
296:1920
293:1915
290:1910
1785:of
1664:KZN
1601:of
1597:of
1417:8th
1367:ANC
1360:5th
1314:ANC
1307:7th
1264:ANC
1257:6th
1214:ANC
1207:6th
1157:IFP
1150:8th
1107:ANC
1100:7th
1050:ANC
1043:8th
1000:ANC
993:7th
1940::
1717::
1715:WC
1708::
1706:NC
1699::
1697:NW
1684::
1682:ML
1675::
1673:LP
1666::
1651::
1649:GT
1642::
1640:FS
1633::
1631:EC
1528:.
1432:)
1424:DA
1375:)
1322:)
1272:)
1222:)
1165:)
1115:)
1058:)
1008:)
514:/
500::
1767:e
1760:t
1753:v
1586:e
1579:t
1572:v
1539:.
1511:.
697:e
690:t
683:v
474:)
470:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
.svg)