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Political Governance
What are the functions of South Africa’ provincial legislatures?

South Africa has nine provinces, each with its own legislature. The size of each provincial legislature depends on the population levels in the province. According to the Constitution, the minimum size for a provincial legislature is 30 members and the maximum size is 80 members. Members of Provincial Legislatures (MPLs) are elected from provincial lists on the basis of the number of votes received by a political party.

The provincial legislatures each elect a Premier to head the government of that province. The premier elects Members of the Executive Council (MECs) as the political heads of provincial government departments.

Provincial legislatures perform the following functions:

• A provincial legislature is responsible for passing the laws for its province as defined in the Constitution. These laws are only effective for that particular province. Parliament may intervene and change these laws if they undermine national security, economic unity, national standards or the interests of another province.
• Provincial legislatures provide a forum for the public consideration and debate of issues of provincial importance.
• Provincial legislatures are responsible for overseeing the work of provincial government departments and for calling their MECs to account for their actions.

[Text above adapted from PIMS’ Provincial Pocketbook]