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Mandate and Core Business

Mandate and Core Business

Mandate and Core Business

Legislative and other mandates

The following are the specific constitutional and legislative mandates and policy directives that define the parameters within which The Presidency operates and from which the institution derives its mandate:

Constitutional Mandates

• The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996, as amended, is the supreme law of the Republic. Along with the Bill of Rights, the Constitution forms the legal foundation of a democratic South Africa and sets out the rights and duties of its citizens and defines the structure of the government. The Presidency houses the President and the Deputy President of the Republic, and is therefore a unique institution in the Public Service. It is in this constitutional context that the broad parameters of the role and responsibilities of The Presidency are defined.

• The Presidency exists to service the President and the Deputy President in the execution of their constitutional responsibilities and duties, as articulated in Chapter 5 of the Constitution. Chapter 5 of the Constitution defines the President as the Head of State and Head of the National Executive. His primary responsibility is to uphold, defend and respect the Constitution as the supreme law of the Republic as well as to promote the unity of the nation and that which will advance it.

• The Section 85 of the Constitution confers the executive authority of the Republic on the President. The Presidency’s strategic posture should as a result reflect these functions of the President and the National Executive he leads.

• The reconfiguration of the Macro-Structure of National Government, in line with the President’s directive enacted under Proclamation No. 44, 2009 in terms of section 97 of the Constitution, impacts on the mandate of The Presidency, as it has brought about the change in the configuration of The Presidency and the service delivery model of the organisation.

The National Macro Organisation Project changed the macro organisation of government in order to give administrative effect to the President’s new Cabinet portfolios and to ensure alignment between the new portfolios and the administrative structures in support of Ministers responsible for these portfolios.

The impact of the new Cabinet portfolios on The Presidency resulted in key legislationpreviously administered by The Presidency being administered by the new Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME). Certain functions and concomitant resources were also transferred, with effect from 1 October 2014, from The Presidency to the DPME, including:

• National Planning Secretariat

• Directorate: Youth Desk and the National Youth Development Agency

Legislative Mandates

A number of Acts then further expand the specific roles and functions of The Presidency and inform its approach to the implementation of its Constitutional mandate, namely: 

Acts administered by The Presidency

• Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office-Bearers Act, 1997 (Act 92 of 1997).

• The Remuneration of Public Office Bearers Act, 1998 (Act 20 of 1998, as amended) provides a framework for determining the salaries, benefits and allowances of public office bearers, and the secretariat to the Independent Commission is located within The Presidency. 

• Executive Members Ethics Act, 1998 (Act 82 of 1998), including the Executive Ethics Code.

Acts administered by others, but with a direct bearing on the work of The Presidency

• The Intergovernmental Relations Framework Act, 2005 (Act 13 of 2005) – the “IGR Act”, establishes a framework for the national government, provincial governments and local governments to promote and facilitate intergovernmental relations and to provide for mechanisms and procedures to facilitate the settlement of intergovernmental disputes.

• The “IGR Act” further seeks to promote corporative governance as espoused by Chapter 3 of the Constitution of South Africa and has informed the formation of the President’s Coordinating Council (PCC), The Cabinet Cluster System, the Forum of South African Director-Generals (FOSAD) and the formation of Inter-Ministerial Committees (IMCs) are also specifically aimed at enhancing coordination and integration across government.

• The legislation that governs formation and work of the Statutory Bodies, (e.g. Infrastructure Development Act (PICC), the BBBEE Act as amended (BBBEE Advisory Council), etc.)

Good Governance Legislation, Regulations and Policy

The Presidency is informed and guided by the good governance framework and all applicable regulatory and legislative prescripts.

In addition, it is noted that most, if not all, Acts of Parliament reference Executive Acts required for their fulfilment. As a result, The Presidency plays a transversal and cross-cutting role in supporting the President, the Deputy President and The Presidency itself in dealing with legislation coming from Parliament. 

Policy Mandates

The National Development Plan, Vision 2030 (NDP)

The National Development Plan (NDP), Vision 2030, adopted by Cabinet in 2012, is the visionary blueprint of government, with business and society as collaborative partners. Seeking to eliminate poverty and sharply reduce inequality by 2030, the five key elements of the NDP are: 

1)  Inclusive social and economic development;

2)  Sustainable investment and growth;

3)  Decent jobs and sustainable livelihoods;

4)  A capable development state; and

5)  Expanding opportunities.

This long-term plan for the country, which cuts across all sectors of society, identifies the critical trade-offs and challenges to be addressed by the country over the period to 2030. The NDP aims to integrate planning and ensure greater policy coherence in government, thus building a common vision of what South Africa could look like in 2030.

Designed as a broad set of programmatic interventions, the NDP proposes a “virtuous cycle” of growth and development, while reducing poverty and inequality. The enablers are strong leadership throughout society, national consensus, social cohesion and a capable state. As the apex department of government and as custodian of the NDP, The Presidency plays a critical leadership and supervision role in galvanising the whole of government and indeed society towards the attainment of the vision of the NDP, Vision 2030.

Giving effect to the longer range planning period of the NDP is a series of 5-year Medium-Term Strategic Frameworks (MTSFs); the MTSF 2014 – 2019 being the first of three such Frameworks following the adoption of the NDP in 2012 and towards the 2030 vision.

Medium-Term Strategic Framework 2014 – 2019 and the 14 Government Outcomes

Aligned to the 15 chapters of the NDP, the MTSF 2014 – 2019 seeks to ensure that the medium-term and short-term planning of government is aligned to the NDP. The MTSF identifies the critical actions to be undertaken during 2014 – 2019 to put the country on a positive trajectory towards the achievement of the 2030 vision. It further identifies indicators and targets to be achieved in the period. Departmental strategic plans must then contain and unpack relevant MTSF commitments, but will also contain additional commitments not in the MTSF.

 

The role of The Presidency in relation to the MTSF is twofold, namely:

1) To lead the alignment and coordination of the implementation of the strategic agenda of government – all 14 outcomes, through mechanisms such as:

• Formal coordination mechanisms – which should be used sparingly;

• Playing a mediating role where other coordination mechanisms break down;

• The provision of enhanced technical support to clusters;

• Implementing the outcomes of the evaluation of coordinating structures; and

• Assessments of the performance of Ministers in delivering on their MTSF-aligned performance delivery agreements.

2)  In addition to its oversight function, The Presidency contributes to the following MTSF outcomes directly:

• Outcome 12: An efficient, effective and development orientated public service;

• Outcome 14: Nation building and social cohesion;

• The Presidency also contributes to the following MTSF outcomes indirectly:

-    Outcome 2: A long and healthy life for all South Africans;

-    Outcome 4: Decent employment through inclusive economic growth;

-    Outcome 5: A skilled and capable workforce to support an inclusive growth path;

-   Outcome 6: An efficient, competitive and responsive economic infrastructure network;

-    Outcome 11: Create a better South Africa and contribute to a better and safer Africa and World.

 

Our Aim

The aim of The Presidency is:

• To support the President in executing his Constitutional responsibilities and leading and galvanising the whole of government and society to implement the electoral mandate;

• To serve as a centre for strategic coordination, leadership and supervision of government in government in implementing the programme, so as to ensure that all energies and efforts are properly aligned;

• To provide oversight to the implementation of the programme of government and to ensure it is achieving its intended objectives. 

Our Vision

In support of this aim, the vision of The Presidency is:

Excellence in governance and in providing leadership to the state and society.

Our Mission

In achieving the above vision, The Presidency describes its mission as:

To provide support to the President and the Deputy President in the execution of their respective responsibilities, as outlined in the Constitution and the electoral mandate.

Our Values

The values and principles that underpin The Presidency’s pursuit of its vision and mission are:

The Presidency Values                         

Dedication                                           
Living this value means that the Presidency will seek to:

  • demonstrate commitment;

  • do what is needed to get the work done;

  • be selfless, resolute, purposeful, and steadfast.


Discipline
Living this value means that the Presidency will seek to:      

  • exercise self-control and work with decorum;

  • display punctuality, reliability, dependability, and commitment to meet deadlines;

  • work with courtesy and respect;

  • seek to make all stakeholders feel valued.


Integrity                                             
Living this value means that the Presidency will seek to:

  • value openness, honesty, consistency and fairness;

  • act in good faith in all day-to-day activities and display humility;

  • act in good faith in all day-to-day activities and display humility;

  • exercise care not to disclose confidential information.

 

Accountability                                   
Living this value means that the Presidency will seek to:

  • take responsibility and act in a transparent manner;

  • create communications channels for stakeholder engagements.

 

Service Excellence                            
Living this value means that the Presidency will seek to:

  • be result oriented and cost effective;

  • understand customer needs, and respond timeously, efficiently and effectively to customer queries and requests;

  • strive for quality and high performance.

Union Building