National Departments

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.

The Supreme Court of Appeal is, except in respect of certain labour and competition matters, the second highest court in South Africa. Previously it and the Constitutional Court were both apex courts with different areas of jurisdiction. However, since August 2013 the Constitutional Court has been the highest court in all matters. In terms of the Constitution, the Supreme Court of Appeal may decide any matter, except certain labour and competition matters, but is purely an appeal court, and it may decide only appeals and issues connected with appeals. The Supreme Court of Appeal may make an order concerning the constitutional validity of an Act of Parliament, a provincial Act or any conduct of the President, but an order of constitutional invalidity has no force unless it is confirmed by the Constitutional Court.

<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.

The vision of the Department of Electricity and Energy (DEE) is to be a leader in the transformation of South Africa through economic growth and sustainable development in the energy sector. Its mission is to regulate, transform and promote the energy sector, providing sustainable and affordable energy for growth and development.

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) was renamed on 1 April 2021, from the previous Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF). In June 2019 the DFFE had been established by incorporating the forestry and fisheries functions from the previous Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries into the Department of Environmental Affairs. The DFFE mandated to give effect to the right of citizens to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being, and to have the environment protected for the benefit of present and future generations. To this end, the Department provides leadership in environmental management, conservation and protection towards sustainability for the benefit of South Africans and the global community. The Department's strategic objectives are to: provide leadership, strategic, centralised administration, executive support, corporate services, and facilitate effective cooperative governance, international relations, and environmental education and awareness; promote the development and implementation of an enabling legal regime and licensing/authorisation system to ensure enforcement and compliance with environmental law; promote, manage and provide strategic leadership on oceans and coastal conservation; improve air and atmospheric quality, lead and support, inform, monitor and report efficient and effective international, national and significant provincial and local responses to climate change; ensure the regulation and management of all biodiversity, heritage and conservation matters in a manner that facilitates sustainable economic growth and development; implement expanded public works and green economy projects in the environmental sector; and manage and ensure that chemicals and waste management policies and legislation are implemented and enforced in compliance with chemicals and waste management authorisations, directives and agreements.

The Department of Human Settlements (DHS) has a mandate that is integral to the effort of the government to change the lives of South Africans for the better. This includes transforming the apartheid spatial and land and development patterns of social and racial exclusion. During the previous administrative term, we stayed true to the mandate by continuing to build and augment the work already done in creating sustainable human settlements and improving the quality of life for all households.

The mission of Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) is to lead and partner in statistical production systems for evidence-based decisions. Stats SA's key goals involve: broadening the role and reach of official statistics - information should enable citizens, the government and businesses to understand and change society, and the important role that numbers play in this context emphasises the importance of relevance and use of official statistics; growth through coordination - the Organisation is moving away from producing statistical series as isolated products to an approach of a production system focusing on integration and analysis that cuts across series, products and organisations; enhanced quality - setting standards for statistical products, providing statistical advice and designating statistics as official of all organs of state within a statistics system are important deliverables for the strategy, and will contribute to improving and assessing the quality of statistical information; sustained capacity - developing and sustaining skills and infrastructure within Stats SA and amongst organs of state that produce statistics, within a systems framework; and doing more with less - being innovative, the use of technology, and a motivated and productive workforce are key enablers to deliver the strategy in an efficient and effective way.

The mandate of the State Security Agency (SSA) is to provide the government with intelligence on domestic and foreign threats or potential threats to national stability, the constitutional order, and the safety and well-being of our people. This allows the government to implement policies to deal with potential threats and better understand existing threats, and, thus, improve their policies. Among the areas of focus of the SSA are the following matters of national interest: terrorism, which refers to deliberate and premeditated attempts to create terror through symbolic acts involving the use or threat of lethal force for creating psychological effects that will influence a target group or individual and translate into political or material results; sabotage, which refers to activities or purposeful omissions conducted or planned for the purpose of endangering the safety, security or defence of vital public or private property, such as installations, structures, equipment or systems; subversion, which includes activities directed towards undermining by covert unlawful acts, or directed towards, or intended ultimately to lead to the destruction or overthrow by violence of, the constitutionally established systems of government in South Africa; espionage, which refers to unlawful or unauthorised activities conducted for acquiring information or assets relating to sensitive social, political, economic, scientific or military matters in South Africa, or for their unauthorised communication to a foreign state; and organised crime, which includes analysis of the origins and reasons behind organised crime, the identification of key role-players, the nature and extent, as well as the modus operandi, of organised crime syndicates.