Public Services & Government

The Northern Cape Heritage Resources Authority (NCHRA), previously called Ngwao Boswa Jwa Kapa Bokone, is the Provincial Heritage Resources Authority (PHRA) of the Northern Cape Province. It is a statutory body established by the MEC of Sport, Arts and Culture in terms of section 23 of the National Heritage Resources Act. The object of the NCHRA is to coordinate the identification and management of the national estate in the Northern Cape. The national estate may include buildings, structures and equipment of cultural significance; places to which oral traditions are attached or which are associated with living heritage; historical settlements and townscapes; landscapes and natural features of cultural significance; geological sites of scientific or cultural importance; archaeological and palaeontological sites; graves and burial grounds; sites of significance relating to the history of slavery in South Africa and movable objects. As one of its functions NCHRA must advise the MEC of Sport, Arts and Culture on the implementation of the National Heritage Resources Act or relevant provincial or municipal legislation.

The mission of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Provincial Treasury is to ensure equitable resource allocations for the province of KwaZulu-Natal, analyse and monitor government (provincial and local, including their public entities) revenue and expenditure, and instil prudent financial management and good governance. The Department's goals are to create a spatially-based allocative framework for a balance between basic service delivery and growth of provincial economy, with the objectives of stimulating economic growth and employment creation through funding of strategic investment initiatives, and funding social needs in line with national norms and standards; develop a framework that will create opportunities for the participation of PDIs in the economy, with the objectives of providing funding instruments, and creating an enabling environment for government procurement to enhance opportunities for PDIs; ensure optimum financial and fiscal management, with the objectives of providing appropriate financial management systems, and maximising own revenue; promote good governance, with the objectives of providing a credible risk profile, auditing service delivery performance of spending agencies, and promoting a culture of zero tolerance for fraud and corruption; and optimise human resource development in the Department, with the objectives of providing effective and integrated administrative support to the MEC and the HOD, and providing efficient and effective legal, financial, logistics and IT support services to the Department.

The Mine Health and Safety Council (MHSC) is a national public entity (Schedule 3A) established in terms of the Mine Health and Safety Act, 29 of 1996, as amended. The entity comprises a tripartite board represented by state, employer and labour members under the chairmanship of the Chief Inspector of Mines. The MHSC is funded by public revenue and is accountable to Parliament. The main task of the Council is to advise the Minister of Mineral Resources on occupational health and safety legislation and research outcomes focussed on improving and promoting occupational health and safety in South African mines. The Mine Health and Safety Council has been in existence since 1997. It has provided a playform for engagement for the tripartite stakeholders. It continues to be the trusted advisor to the Minister of Mineral Resources and the mining industry at large on occupational health and safety issues. The MHSC is currently in the process of implementing the Centre of Excellence on mine occupational health and safety, which is a game changer in how MHSC is going to conduct its business.

The mandate of Mintek is to serve the national interest through research and development, technology transfer, promote mineral technology, and encourage the establishment and expansion of industries in the field of minerals and products derived therefrom. Mintek's offerings include a full range of process development services, from preliminary bench-scale investigations to large-scale piloting and integrated flowsheet development, in support of bankable feasibility studies. Its activities include: providing essential services (information, consulting and experimental); increasing the competitiveness of the industry by developing effective technology (to cut costs and improve recoveries); developing ‘breakthrough' process technologies and novel uses for metals and their products; marketing its commercial products and technologies to the industry; establishing strategic partnerships and joint ventures; participating in regional development initiatives and Southern African Development Community activities and projects; maintaining and expanding international scientific links; and developing the human resources potential of the region through educational and training activities.

The mission of the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA) is to provide support and develop technical capacity towards sustained accelerated municipal infrastructure and service delivery. The Agent's purpose is to: provide leadership, strategic direction, management and administration services to the organisation; and provide technical support to targeted municipalities, which will improve infrastructure planning, implementation, as well as operations and maintenance. MISA also manages deployment of professional service providers to municipalities, ensuring that sufficient technical capacity is built within municipalities, which will result in effective and efficient service delivery in the long term. This includes all training administration activities, and provides comprehensive generic strategic support to the Technical Support and Capacity Development Programmes, which will allow them to focus exclusively on the core functions.

The vision of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works is an inclusive economy through sustainable infrastructure development and property management. Its mission is to improve the lives of the people of KwaZulu-Natal through sustainable infrastructure development and property management. The Department's priorities are to eliminate waste and improve service delivery by intensifying the fight against fraud and corruption; focus on poverty alleviation and the creation of work opportunities; address the land and building needs of provincial departments as per their confirmed requests; efficiently and effectively manage the provincial fixed asset register; effectively manage immovable assets in terms of the Government Immovable Asset Management Act (GIAMA) by developing long-term user and custodian asset management plans; meet job creation, skills development and sector transformation objectives through implementation of established programmes; provide strategic leadership, effective corporate governance and build internal capacity; and implement efficient financial management systems in full compliance with the PFMA, Treasury regulations and practice notes.

The vision of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development is to cultivate a caring and self- reliant society. Its mission is to provide integrated, comprehensive and sustained social development services to the people of KwaZulu-Natal. The Department's mandate is to improve the quality of life for the poor and vulnerable. Its strategic outcomes are to reduce levels of poverty, inequality, vulnerability and social ills; empower and create resilient individuals, families and sustainable communities; and to be a functional, effective and integrated department.

The vision of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sport, Arts and Culture is a healthy, creative, winning and socially cohesive province through sport, arts and culture. Its mission is to transform the sport, arts and cultural environment through integrated, sustainable, capacity development and economic empowerment programmes for all citizens.

The mission of the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC) is to provide agricultural marketing advisory services to key stakeholders in support of a vibrant agricultural marketing system in South Africa. The Council's strategic objectives are to: increase market access for all market participants; promote the efficiency of the marketing of agricultural products; optimise export earnings from agricultural products; and enhance the viability of the agricultural sector. The Council serves through the following initiatives: research on trade, linking farmers to markets, monitoring food prices and inputs costs, as well as value chain; development schemes aimed at leveraging the potential of smallholder agriculture through partnerships, as well as technical assistance and training programmes; industry trusts; bridging the communication gap between industry and the ministry; statutory measures; and investigating statutory measure applications.

The mission of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport is to provide the public with a road transportation system that is safe, integrated, regulated, affordable and accessible. The Department's core functions are to construct, maintain and repair the provincial road network through constructing and maintaining a balanced road network that meets the mobility needs of the citizens of KwaZulu-Natal, while supporting the national and provincial growth and development strategies; and plan, regulate and provide an integrated transportation system through regulating public transport whilst ensuring access to safe, efficient and affordable public transportation, and facilitating the development of the freight transport industry and the minimisation of the negative externalities resultant from the transportation of freight.

The mission of the National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC) is to develop and promote excellence in the arts. The Council's mandate is to: provide, and encourage the provision of, opportunities for people to practice the arts; promote the appreciation, understanding and enjoyment of the arts; promote the general application of the arts in the community; foster the expression of a national identity and consciousness by means of the arts; uphold and promote the right of any people to freedom in the practice of the arts; give the historically disadvantaged such additional help and resources as are required to give them greater access to the arts; address historical imbalances in the provision of infrastructure for the promotion of the arts; promote and facilitate national and international liaison between individuals and institutions in respect of the arts; and develop, promote and encourage excellence in the arts.

The mission of the National Consumer Commission (NCC) is to promote compliance with the Consumer Protection Act through advocacy and enforcement, in order to ensure fair business practice and uphold the social and economic welfare of consumers. The NCC is charged with the responsibility of enforcing and carrying out the functions assigned to it in terms of the Consumer Protection Act. The Act seeks to promote a fair, accessible and sustainable marketplace for consumer products and services and, for that purpose, to establish national norms and standards relating to consumer protection throughout South Africa. It further seeks to: provide for improved standards of consumer information; prohibit certain unfair marketing and business practices; promote responsible consumer behaviour; and promote a consistent legislative and enforcement framework relating to consumer transactions and agreements.

The mission of the National Credit Regulator (NCR) is to support the social and economic advancement of South Africa by regulating for a fair and non-discriminatory market place for access to consumer credit; and promoting responsible credit granting and credit use, and effective redress. The NCR's mandate is to: promote and support the development of a fair, transparent, competitive, sustainable, responsible, efficient and effective consumer credit market, and to increase participation of historically disadvantaged persons, low-income persons and communities, and remote, isolated or low-density populations and communities in the consumer credit market; regulate the consumer credit industry by registering credit providers, credit bureaus and debt counsellors, payment distribution agents, and alternative dispute resolution agencies; enforce the provisions of the National Credit Act; undertake research on the nature and dynamics of the consumer credit market in order to increase knowledge of these matters; promote public awareness of consumer credit matters; and review legislation and report to the Minister of Trade and Industry on matters concerning consumer credit.

The National Development Agency's (NDA) mandate is to: contribute towards the eradication of poverty and its causes by granting funds to civil society organisations for the purpose of implementing development projects of poor communities and strengthening the institutional capacity of other civil society organisations that provide services to poor communities; promote consultation, dialogue and sharing of development experience between civil society organisations and relevant organs of state; debate development policy; and undertake research and publications aimed at providing the basis for development policy.

The National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa (NEMISA), in collaboration with the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT), is focused on the implementation of programmes for the development of the required skills and competencies to leverage the power of modern ICTs in South Africa, thereby contributing to socio-economic development, improving service delivery and improving competitiveness through ICTs. NEMISA's mission is to provide a national integrated e-skills development approach for sustainable socio-economic development in South Africa and to radically advance human capacity development in e-skills (digital skills).