Premier of the Free State

The Premier of the Free State is the head of government of the Free State province of South Africa. The current Premier of the Free State is Sisi Ntombela, a member of the African National Congress, who was appointed in March 2018. She took office on 27 March 2018.[1]

Premier of the Free State
Incumbent
Sisi Ntombela
since 27 March 2018
StyleThe Honourable
AppointerFree State Legislature
Term lengthFive years, renewable once
Inaugural holderMosiuoa Lekota
Formation7 May 1994
Websitewww.fs.gov.za/Premiers.htm
Free State
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
the Free State
  • Legislature
    • Speaker - Zanele Sifuba
Politics of South Africa

Functions

In terms of the constitution, the executive authority of a province is entrusted in the Premier. The Premier designates an Executive Council made up of ten members of the provincial legislature; they are called Members of the Executive Council (MECs). The MECs are effectively ministers and the Executive Council a cabinet at the provincial level. The Premier has the capabality to appoint and dismiss MECs at his/her own discretion.

The Premier and the Executive Council are responsible for implementing provincial legislation, along with any national legislation assigned to the province. They set provincial policy and manage the departments of the provincial government; their actions are subject to the national constitution.

In order for an act of the provincial legislature to become law, the Premier must sign it. If he/she believes that the act is unconstitutional, it can be referred back to the legislature for reconsideration. If the Premier and the legislature cannot agree, the act must be referred to the Constitutional Court for a final decision.

The Premier is also ex officio a member of the National Council of Provinces, the upper house of Parliament, as one of the special delegates from the province.[2]

List
No Name Took office Party
1 Mosiuoa Lekota 7 May 1994 African National Congress
2 Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri 18 December 1996 African National Congress
3 Winkie Direko 15 June 1999 African National Congress
4 Beatrice Marshoff 26 April 2004 African National Congress
5 Ace Magashule 6 May 2009 African National Congress
6 Sisi Ntombela 27 March 2018 African National Congress

Election

The election for the Free State Provincial Legislature is held every five years, simultaneously with the election of the National Assembly; the last such election occurred on 8 May 2019. At the first meeting of the provincial legislature after an election, the members choose the Premier from amongst themselves. The provincial legislature can force the Premier to resign by a motion of no confidence. If the Premiership becomes vacant (for whatever reason) the provincial legislature must choose a new Premier to serve out the period until the next election. One person cannot have served more than two five-year terms as Premier; however, when a Premier is chosen to fill a vacancy the time until the next election does not count as a term.

See also

References
  1. Premier takes over. Retrieved on 25 June 2019.
  2. Constitution of South Africa
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