C ommo nwe a l t h memb e r c o u n t r i e s provided that they are consistent with the constitution, in a Chiefs’ Court. These courts generally hear cases that relate to marriage, succession, guardianship and land tenure. Government and politics Last elections: 7 May 2014 Next elections: 2019 Head of state: President Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma Head of government: The President Ruling party: African National Congress Women MPs: 42% (previous Assembly) In the third democratic general election, in April 2004, the African National Congress (ANC) won a decisive mandate, securing 70 per cent of the votes, while the Democratic Alliance (DA) took 12 per cent (and 50 seats) and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) seven per cent (28 seats). The ANC achieved a majority in seven of the nine provinces and, with 279 seats, gained the two-thirds majority needed to change the constitution, though they had not promised any changes in their manifesto. In December 2007 Jacob Zuma defeated President Thabo Mbeki in the ANC leadership elections, paving the way for his candidacy in the 2009 presidential elections. In the same month, the ANC National Executive Committee ‘recalled’ Mbeki from the presidency, he resigned and parliament elected ANC deputy leader Kgalema Motlanthe to succeed him. A new political party, the Congress of the People (COPE), was launched in December 2008 under the leadership of Mosiuoa Lekota, former chairman of the ANC and a close ally of Mbeki. Facing the challenge of COPE and the DA, the ANC nevertheless won 66 per cent of votes (264 seats) in the parliamentary elections in April 2009. The DA, led by Helen Zille, received 17 per cent of votes (67 seats) and COPE seven per cent (30 seats). Turnout was 77 per cent. At the first sitting of the National Assembly in May 2009, Zuma was formally elected President and he then appointed Motlanthe Deputy President. COPE’s candidate in the presidential contest was Bishop Mvume Dandala, rather than its leader, Lekota. Former President Nelson Mandela died on 5 December 2013. President Zuma and the ANC won the general election on 7 May 2014, securing 249 seats with 62.2 per cent of the vote. The DA – led by Helen Zille – won 89 seats (22.2 per cent of the vote), Economic Freedom Fighters – led by former ANC member Julius Malema – 25 seats (6.4 per cent) and IFP ten seats (2.4 per cent). Turnout was 73 per cent. On 21 May 2014 the National Assembly re-elected Jacob Zuma President and he was sworn in for a second term on 24 May. Local government Ministry: Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Association: South African Local Government Association There are three spheres of government in the Republic South Africa: central, provincial and local, as provided for by the constitution. Each of the nine provinces has its own elected legislature. Provincial and local government are provided for by many acts and enshrined in the constitution. The Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs is responsible for both provincial and local government. Local government comprises eight metropolitan councils and 44 two-tier district councils, with 226 local councils in the second tier. Provincial and local elections are held every five years. The provincial and local authorities have revenue-raising powers and receive grants from national government. The local authorities are responsible for a broad range of local services, such as public health, waste management, utilities and transport. Partnerships between municipalities and councils are quite common. National development plan The National Planning Commission (NPC) was given a mandate in February 2011 to develop a long-term vision and strategic plan for South Africa. The NPC is chaired by the minister in the presidency for national planning and its mandate includes countrywide consultation. Among the first documents the NPC released in June 2011 was a detailed ‘diagnostic overview’, which aimed to identify the main Commonwealth Governance Handbook 2014/15 254 Governance institutions Auditor-General: www.agsa.co.za Bureau of Standards: www.sabs.co.za Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs: www.cogta.gov.za Department of Justice and Constitutional Development: www.justice.gov.za Department of Public Service and Administration: www.dpsa.gov.za Department of Trade and Industry: www.thedti.gov.za Financial Services Board: www.fsb.co.za Independent Communications Authority: www.icasa.org.za Independent Electoral Commission: www.elections.org.za Johannesburg Stock Exchange: www.jse.co.za National Anti-Corruption Forum: www.nacf.org.za National Energy Regulator: www.nersa.org.za National Planning Commission: www.npconline.co.za National Treasury: www.treasury.gov.za Parliament of the Republic of South Africa: www.parliament.gov.za Presidency: www.thepresidency.gov.za Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority: www.psira.co.za South African Institute of Management: www.saim.co.za South African Local Government Association: www.salga.org.za South African Reserve Bank: www.resbank.co.za Special Investigating Unit: www.siu.org.za Supreme Court of Appeal: www.justice.gov.za/sca
CEP template 2012
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