Government of Gauteng

This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Gauteng
  • Government
    • Premier - David Makhura
      • Director-General - Mogopodi Mokoena
    • Legislature
      • Speaker - Ntombi Mekgwe

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The government of Gauteng province in South Africa consists of a unicameral legislature elected by proportional representation, and an executive branch headed by a Premier who is elected by the legislature.

Legislature

Johannesburg City Hall, seat of the provincial legislature

The provincial legislature is a unicameral body of 73 members elected by a system of party-list proportional representation. The legislature is elected for a term of five years, unless it is dissolved early. By convention elections to the provincial legislature are held at the same time as elections to the National Assembly. The legislature meets in the Johannesburg City Hall.

The most recent elections were held on 7 May 2014, and were won by the African National Congress (ANC) which obtained 40 of the 73 seats on the legislature. The composition of the legislature is as follows:

Party Seats
African National Congress 40
Democratic Alliance 23
Economic Freedom Fighters 8
Freedom Front Plus 1
Inkatha Freedom Party 1

Executive

The head of the provincial executive is the Premier of Gauteng, who is a member of the provincial legislature elected by the legislature. The Premier appoints an Executive Council who are a cabinet overseeing the executive departments.

As of May 2014 the Premier is David Makhura of the ANC, and the ten members of the Executive Council are described in the following table.

Portfolio MEC Department(s)
Agriculture and Rural Development Faith Mazibuko Agriculture and Rural Development
Community Safety Sizakele Emelda Nkosi-Malobane Community Safety
Economic Development Lebogang Maile Economic Development
Education Andrek Panyaza Lesufi Education
Finance Barbara Creecy Finance
Provincial Treasury
Health and Social Development Qedani Mahlangu Health
Social Development
Infrastructure Development Nandi Mayathula-Khoza Infrastructure Development
Local Government and Housing Jacob Mamabolo Local Government and Traditional Affairs
Housing
Roads and Transport Ismail Vadi Roads and Transport
Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Molebatsi Frances Bopape Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation

Courts

The seats of the Gauteng Division of the High Court in Pretoria (above) and Johannesburg (below)

South Africa has a single national court system and the provinces do not have their own courts. The Gauteng Division of the High Court of South Africa, which has seats in Pretoria and Johannesburg, has jurisdiction over all cases arising in the province. However, most cases are first heard in one of the over 25 district magistrates' courts or in the regional magistrate's court for the province. Appeals from the magistrates' courts are to the High Court, and appeals from the High Court are to the Supreme Court of Appeal or the Constitutional Court.

Administrative divisions

Map of municipalities in Gauteng

Gauteng is divided into three metropolitan municipalities and two district municipalities. The district municipalities are in turn divided into a total of seven local municipalities. These municipalities are:

See also

External links