Public Services & Government

The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities is responsible for deepening the appreciation of South Africans for the wide array of cultures, religions and languages found in the country, and for contributing meaningfully and constructively to social transformation and nation-building for the attainment of a truly united South African nation. The Commission was established to fulfil the following objectives: promote and develop peace, friendship, humanity, tolerance and national unity amongst and within cultural, religious and linguistic communities on the basis of equity, non-discrimination and free association; foster mutual respect amongst cultural, religious and linguistic communities; promote the right of communities to develop their historically diminished heritage; promote respect for and further the protection of the rights of cultural, religious and linguistic communities; and recommend the establishment or recognition of community councils.

The mission of the Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA) is to create a solid skills base as a foundation for infrastructural development and economic empowerment. The CETA initiates skills projects and learnerships aimed at improving and developing South Africa's human resources, including a construction workforce whose skills are recognised and valued in terms of the National Qualifications Frameworks (NQF). The CETA is accredited as an Education and Training Quality Assurance (ETQA) body by the South African Qualification Authority (SAQA) on behalf of the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO). The ETQA status authorises the CETA to accredit and monitor both training and training providers. To facilitate the provision of training, the CETA uses discretionary money at its disposal to fund projects that aim to achieve its qualitative and quantitative obligations in terms of the National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS).

The Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority (CATHSSETA) was established under the Skills Development Act 97 of 1998 (the Skills Act) for the tourism, hospitality and sports economic sector. CATHSSETA's main function is to contribute to the raising of skills - to bring skills to the employed, or those wanting to be employed, in their sector. They achieve this by ensuring that people learn skills that are needed by employers and communities. There is no value in training people if they cannot use the skills they have learnt. Training and skills development is not just for young people starting out in the working world, though it is important for them, it is also there to enhance the skills of people who are already employed.

The vision of the ETDP SETA is to be a promoter and facilitator in the development and improvement of the skills profile of the sector's workforce in order to benefit employers, workers and employees in the sector in the following ways: skill levels of employees and workers are raised; a healthy balance between supply and demand in the labour market; diverse, flexible routes for initial and in-service education and training; a variety of career paths are available; quality of education and training provision is improved; levy grant scheme is efficiently administered; regular liaison with providers, other SETAs, the Department of Labour, the Department of Education, the National Skills Authority (NSA), and the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and its structures; internal and external communication is effective in order to advance national human resource and skills development; dialogue and interaction between public and private entities in the sector with regard to skills transfer and training delivery is encouraged; employers, workers and employees in the sector benefit from quality training, higher productivity and harmonious mutual dependencies.

The mission of the Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority (EWSETA) is: comprehensive research and a sound understanding of the skills demand and supply forces in its sector; coordinating, facilitating and providing quality assurance for sector relevant skills development programmes for its stakeholders, aligned with stated national skills development priorities; and establishing a sector skills pipeline with a positive impact on government's economic growth policies, employment creation and the eradication of poverty. EWSETA's responsibility is to manage skills development through strategic sector skills planning within the framework of the National Skills Development Strategy III. This includes developing a sector skills plan and implementing the sector skills plan by: establishing learning programmes; approving Workplace Skills Plans and the Annual Training Report; allocating grants to employers, education and training, providers, and workers; monitoring education and training in the sector; registering learning programme agreements; and promoting learnerships and other training programmes. The role of EWSETA also includes facilitating the creation of learnerships with employers in the sector via the following: finding workplaces where learners can do practical work; supporting people who create learning material; helping to wrap up learnership agreements; and registering learnership agreements.

The FP&M SETA was established by the Minister of Higher Education on 1 ApriI, 20II, following the government's strategic decision to cluster sectors and strengthen value-chain linkages between related industries. The SETA encompasses a diverse range of subsectors, including clothing, footwear, forestry, furniture, general goods, leather, packaging, print media, printing, publishing, pulp and paper, textiles and wood products. These subsectors, while distinct, are intricately interconnected, collectively adding immense value to consumers' lives. The FP&M sector is embracing the advancements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and looking ahead to the Fifth Industrial Revolution (5IR), and so, the sector is evolving rapidly. Innovations in automation, artificial intelligence, and digitalisation are driving efficiency and sustainability, while human-centric approaches are enhancing the quality and customisation of its products. In fact, it is almost impossible to go through a day without using one or more products manufactured within the FP&M sector.

Established by the Constitution of South Africa, the Electoral Commission (IEC) of South Africa is an independent body that manages elections of legislative bodies and institutions through the participation of citizens, political parties and civil society. The IEC's obligations are to: manage elections of national, provincial and municipal legislative bodies; ensure that those elections are free and fair; declare the results of those elections; and compile and maintain a national common voters' roll. The Commission's duties are to: ensure that any election is free and fair; promote conditions conducive to free and fair elections; compile and maintain a national common voters' roll; compile and maintain a register of parties; establish and maintain liaison and cooperation with parties; undertake and promote research into electoral matters; develop and promote the development of electoral expertise and technology in all spheres of government; continuously review electoral laws and proposed electoral laws, and make recommendations; promote voter education; declare the results of elections for national, provincial and municipal legislative bodies within seven days; and appoint appropriate public administrations in any sphere of government to conduct elections when necessary.

The vision of the Finance and Accounting Services Sector Education and Training Authority (FASSET) is to facilitate the achievement of world-class finance and accounting services skills. The mission of the FASSET is to increase the flow of new finance and accountancy entrants into employment; develop and grow the skills required in the sector; and facilitate transformation of the finance and accountancy sector. The objectives of FASSET are to: develop the competence of employees and potential employees; increase the levels of investment in education and training and optimise the return on this investment; position this sector as the ‘sector of career choice' for prospective learners and entrants into the labour market; encourage employers and employees to adopt a culture of lifelong learning; support the objectives of the Employment Equity Act of 1998; enhance access to learning opportunities and facilitate the recognition of prior learning; ensure the quality of education and training in the sector; expand the provision of education and training in this sector through sound partnerships with public and private sector service providers; encourage greater cooperation between the public and private sectors; and cooperate with the South African Qualifications Authority and other SETAs, in support of the objectives of the Act. "

The Financial and Fiscal Commission (FFC) is an independent juristic entity subject only to the Constitution, Financial and Fiscal Commission Act 99 of 1997, and relevant legislative prescripts. The Commission acts as a consultative body, makes recommendations and gives advice to Parliament, provincial legislatures, organised local government and other organs of State on the equitable division of revenue among the three spheres of government and on any other financial and fiscal matters in terms of the Constitution and as provided for in national legislation.

The mission of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) is to ensure that all South Africans have access to a wide range of high quality communication services at affordable prices. The Authority's strategic objectives are linked to government's Outcomes-Based Approach. ICASA's strategic objectives are: increased access to available broadband spectrum; reduced regulatory burden for equipment manufacturers and importers; to protect consumers from harmful practices in the use of premium rated services; to develop a 5G Forum for South Africa; national radio frequency planning to align the RSA National Frequency Plan to WRC-15 outcomes; dynamic and opportunistic spectrum use; millimetre-wave band availability; broadband coverage availability information for consumers; imposition of obligations on licensees; increased competition and diversity in the commercial television broadcasting sector; increased competition in the electronic communications sector; reduced barriers to entry into the broadband market; reduced barriers to entry into the subscription broadcasting market; ECS/ECNS reseller market exemption regulations clarification; improved utilisation of spectrum; quality telecommunication services; harmonisation of cross-border communication; access to ICASA services; protection of consumers from harmful practices; promotion of consumer participation in the ICT sector; monitoring of compliance with licence terms and conditions by licensees; promotion of consumer participation in the ICT sector; consumer complaints resolution; promotion of consumer participation in the ICT sector; improved social cohesion through community the television broadcasting sector; promotion of a common national identity through broadcasting services; Nat Joint Operations instructions execution; improved ICASA awareness through consumer engagement campaigns; promotion of equitable coverage of elections; and transformation in the ICT Sector.

The mission of the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) is to create spatial conditions for sustainable development and transformation of local communities through municipal and ward boundary demarcation; provide advisory services; and serve as a knowledge hub for stakeholders to promote socio-economic development, democratic participation, equality and access to services. The Board is an independent authority responsible for the determination of municipal boundaries. The Board's status as an independent authority is also protected by Section 3 of The Local Government: Municipal Demarcation Act of 1998, and various judgements by the Constitutional Court. In addition to the determinations and redeterminations of municipal boundaries, the Board is also mandated by legislation to declare the district management areas, delimit wards for local elections, and assess the capacity of municipalities to perform their functions. The legislation provides for the following functions of the Board: determination and redetermination of municipal boundaries; delimitation of wards for local elections; assessment of the capacity of district and local municipalities to perform their functions as provided for in the Constitution and the Structures Act; and the declaration and withdrawal of the declaration of district management areas. In addition, Cabinet approved a leading role for the Board in assisting government departments in aligning their functional service delivery boundaries to municipal boundaries.

The functional sectors represented by the Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority (HWSETA) in South Africa include the health, social development and veterinary sectors. Its mission is to create an integrated approach to the development and provision of appropriately skilled health and social development workers, to render quality services comparable to world-class standards. HWSETA has a broad mandate, but its key objectives are: to develop and implement the Sector Skills Plan; skills development planning, programmes and initiatives; monitoring of education and training; identification of workplaces for practical work experience; to support and facilitate the development of the National Skills Development Strategy; disbursement of levies collected; to forge links with all stakeholders and relevant bodies; to account for the effective and efficient use of public monies in line with the provisions of the Public Finance Management Act; and the promotion of the employment of disabled persons.

The purpose of the Insurance Sector Education and Training Authority (Inseta) is to grow the pool and quality of scarce and critical skills in the insurance sector, enhancing the sector and supporting the country's transformation. Inseta's strategic goals are: a credible institutional mechanism for skills planning; increased access to occupationally directed programmes; better use of workplace-based skills development; training and support provided to sector cooperatives, small enterprises and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs); effective established career and vocational guidance channels; promoting the growth of a public Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system that is responsive to sector, local, regional and national skills priorities; and organisational effectiveness.

To ensure effective police oversight and integrated safety services for a safe and peaceful KwaZulu-Natal

The Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) was established in order to promote and create conditions for the development and use of official languages, the Khoe and San languages, and sign language; and to promote and ensure respect for all languages commonly used by communities in South Africa, including German, Greek, Gujarati, Hindi, Portuguese, Tamil, Telegu and Urdu, and Arabic, Hebrew, Sanskrit, and other languages used for religious purposes in South Africa.