National Departments in Pretoria

The mission of the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) is to deliver effective strategic government communication; set and influence adherence to standards and coherence of message and proactively communicate with the public about government policies, plans, programmes and achievements.

The mission of the Department of Transport (DOT) is to lead the development of integrated efficient transport systems by creating a framework of sustainable policies, regulations and implementable models to support government strategies for economic, social and international development. The objectives that the Department aims to achieve by providing policy framework, regulation and implementation models are: competitive transport costs; safety and security improvements; a reduction in infrastructure backlogs; improvement in access; and a reduction of time in transit.

The mission of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) is to promote structural transformation, towards a dynamic industrial and globally competitive economy; provide a predictable, competitive, equitable and socially responsible environment conducive to investment, trade and enterprise development; broaden participation in the economy to strengthen economic development; and continually improve the skills and capabilities of the dtic to effectively deliver on its mandate and respond to the needs of South Africa's economic citizens. The department's strategic objectives are to facilitate transformation of the economy to promote industrial development, investment, competitiveness and employment creation; build mutually beneficial regional and global relations to advance South Africa's trade, industrial policy and economic development objectives; facilitate broad-based economic participation through targeted interventions to achieve more inclusive growth; create a fair regulatory environment that enables investment, trade and enterprise development in an equitable and socially responsible manner; and promote a professional, ethical, dynamic, competitive and customer-focused working environment that ensures effective and efficient service delivery.

The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSI) seeks to boost socio-economic development in South Africa through research and innovation. To achieve its goals, the Department provides leadership, an enabling environment and resources for science, technology and innovation. Through its programmes (administration, technology innovation, international cooperation and resources, research development and support, and socio-economic innovation partnerships) and several entities that work alongside it, the Department is accomplishing groundbreaking science and enhancing the well-being of all South Africans. The Department was renamed from the Department of Science and Innovation to the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation on 27 September 2024.

The mission of the Department of Small Business Development is to focus on enhanced support to small business and cooperatives, with an emphasis on programmes to advance entrepreneurship amongst women, the youth, and people with disabilities to contribute to job creation and economic growth. The Department's objectives are to: facilitate the development and growth of small businesses and cooperatives to contribute to inclusive and shared economic growth and job creation through public and private sector procurement; facilitate partnerships with all spheres of government as well as the private sector to ensure mutual cooperation that will benefit small businesses and cooperatives; advocate for a conducive regulatory environment for small businesses and cooperatives to enable access to finance, investment, trade equitable and market access in an and sustainable manner; and facilitate radical economic transformation through increased participation of small businesses and cooperatives in the mainstream economy.

The mission of the National Prosecuting Authority of South Africa (NPA), guided by the Constitution, is to ensure justice for the victims of crime by prosecuting without fear, favour and prejudice and, by working with their partners and the public, to solve and prevent crime. The National Prosecuting Authority has the power to: institute and conduct criminal proceedings on behalf of the state; carry out any necessary functions incidental to instituting and conducting such criminal proceedings; and discontinue criminal proceedings.

The mission of the South African Law Reform Commission (SALRC) is the continuous reform of the law of South Africa in accordance with the principles and values of the Constitution to meet the needs of a changing society operating under the rule of law. The objectives of the Commission are to do research with reference to all branches of the law of the country and to study and investigate all such branches in order to make recommendations for the development, improvement, modernisation or reform thereof, including the: repeal of obsolete or unnecessary provisions; removal of anomalies; bringing about of uniformity in the law in force in the various parts of the country; consolidation or codification of any branch of the law; and steps aimed at making the common law more readily available. In short, the Commission is an advisory body whose aim is the renewal and improvement of the law of South Africa on a continuous basis.

<p>The National Treasury is responsible for managing South Africa’s national government finances. Supporting efficient and sustainable public financial management is fundamental to the promotion of economic development, good governance, social progress and a rising standard of living for all South Africans. The Constitution of the Republic (Chapter 13) mandates the National Treasury to ensure transparency, accountability and sound financial controls in the management of public finances.<br><br>The National Treasury’s legislative mandate is also described in the Public Finance Management Act (Chapter 2). The National Treasury is mandated to promote government’s fiscal policy framework; to coordinate macroeconomic policy and intergovernmental financial relations; to manage the budget preparation process; to facilitate the Division of Revenue Act, which provides for an equitable distribution of nationally raised revenue between national, provincial and local government; and to monitor the implementation of provincial budgets.<br><br>As mandated by the executive and Parliament, the National Treasury will continue to support the optimal allocation and utilisation of financial resources in all spheres of government to reduce poverty and vulnerability among South Africa’s most marginalised.<br><br>Over the next 10 years National Treasury priorities include increasing investment in infrastructure and industrial capital; improving education and skills development to raise productivity; improving the regulation of markets and public entities; and fighting poverty and inequality through efficient public service delivery, expanded employment levels, income support and empowerment.<br><br></p>

The mission of the Department of the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service is to provide efficient and effective civilian oversight over the South African Police Service for safer and more secure communities through community participation, legislation and policy development. The Civilian Secretariat for Police (the Civilian Secretariat) serves as technical advisor to the Minister of Police (the Minister) to evince a transversal civilian oversight capability on the governance, service delivery and resourcing of the SAPS (the Police Service). The vision of the department is a transformed and accountable Police Service that reflects the democratic values and principles of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. The Civilian Secretariat performs advisory functions on various matters, including, but not limited to, departmental policy and strategy, legislation, and police performance through conducting audits, communication, community mobilisation on crime prevention, the Integrated Justice System, and international obligations and liaison. The Department's objectives are to: exercise civilian oversight over the Police Service through monitoring and evaluating overall police performance against planned programmes; give strategic advice to the Minister in respect of developing and implementing policies; provide administrative support services to the Minister to ensure South Africa's engagement with relevant international obligations; liaise and communicate with stakeholders; implement a partnership strategy to mobilise role-players and stakeholders to strengthen service delivery by the Police Service to ensure the safety and security of communities; implement, promote and align the operations of the Civilian Secretariat in the national and provincial spheres of government; coordinate the functions and powers of the Civilian Secretariat in the national and provincial spheres of government; promote cooperation between the Civilian Secretariat, the Police Service and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate; and provide guidance to community police fora and associated structures and facilitate their proper functioning.

The mission of the Department of the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service is to provide efficient and effective civilian oversight over the South African Police Service for safer and more secure communities through community participation, legislation and policy development. The Civilian Secretariat for Police (the Civilian Secretariat) serves as technical advisor to the Minister of Police (the Minister) to evince a transversal civilian oversight capability on the governance, service delivery and resourcing of the SAPS (the Police Service). The vision of the department is a transformed and accountable Police Service that reflects the democratic values and principles of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. The Civilian Secretariat performs advisory functions on various matters, including, but not limited to, departmental policy and strategy, legislation, and police performance through conducting audits, communication, community mobilisation on crime prevention, the Integrated Justice System, and international obligations and liaison.

The vision of the Department of Agriculture (DoA) is to have sustainable agriculture and food security for all. Its mission is to improve agricultural production to stimulate economic development and food security through sustainable livelihoods; innovative sustainable agriculture; and promotion of access to opportunities for youth, women and other vulnerable groups.

The mission of the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) is to create an enabling environment for the provision of inclusive communication services to all South Africans in a manner that promotes socio-economic development and investment through broadcasting, new media, print media and other new technologies, and to brand the country locally and internationally. The Department's strategic outcome-orientated goals are to: enable the maximisation of investment in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector and create new competitive business opportunities for the growth of the ICT industry for socio-economic development; ensure that ICT infrastructure is accessible, robust, reliable, affordable and secure to meet the needs of the country and its people; accelerate the socio-economic development of South Africans and facilitate the building of an inclusive information society through partnerships with business and civil society, and the three spheres of government; improve departmental performance and enhance the role of ICT State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) as the delivery arms of government; and contribute to the global ICT agenda prioritising Africa's development.

The vision of the Department of Cooperative Governance is the realisation of an efficient and effective cooperative governance system that enables resilient, safe, sustainable, prosperous, cohesive, connected and climate smart communities. To this end, the Department's mission is to lead the Cooperative Governance System in support of integrated planning and implementation across all spheres of government. The Department's mandate is primarily derived from Chapters 3, 5, 6, 7, and 9 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996 as well as the following legislation: the Intergovernmental Relations Framework Act 13 of 2005; Municipal Property Rates Act 6 of 2004; Municipal Structures Act 117 of 1998; Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000; Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002; Remuneration of Public Bearer's Act 20 of 1998; Sections 100, 139 and 154, Monitoring/Intervention Bill. The Department's mandate is further informed by: Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act 16 of 2013; Integrated Urban Development Framework (IUDF) 2016; National Spatial Development Framework (NSDF); Municipal Finance Management Act 56 of 2003.

The vision of the Department of Correctional Services is to contribute to a just, peaceful and safer South Africa through effective and humane incarceration of inmates, and rehabilitation and social reintegration of offenders. The Department's strategic objectives are: building organisational capacity for enhanced service delivery; effective management of business processes to promote good governance and ethical administration; providing a secured ICT infrastructure and business systems; professionalising for effective human resource management and development; an effective management of remand detention processes to promote conducive participation in court processes; holding remand detainees and offenders in secure, safe and humane conditions; effective case management process; effective incarceration and rehabilitation to protect society; correcting offender behaviour through access to correctional programmes and psychological, social and spiritual services; improving offenders' human development through literacy, education and skills competency programmes; reduced re-offending to contribute to a safer South Africa; providing inmates with appropriate nutritional services; providing inmates with appropriate access to health services; rehabilitating, monitoring and accepting probationers and parolees as law-abiding citizens by the communities; providing offenders with access to restorative justice processes; and effective management and functioning of the parole boards.

The mission of the Department of Defence is to provide, manage, prepare and employ defence capabilities commensurate with the needs of South Africa, as regulated by the Constitution, national legislation, parliamentary and executive direction. The Department's strategic priorities are to: halve poverty and unemployment; ensure a more equitable distribution of the benefits of economic growth and reduce inequality; improve the national health profile and skills base and ensure universal access to basic services; improve the safety of citizens by reducing incidents of crime and corruption; and build a nation free of all forms of racism, sexism, tribalism and xenophobia.