Premier of the Free State
| Premier of the Free State | |
|---|---|
| Style | The Honourable |
| Appointer | Free State Legislature |
| Term length | Five years, renewable once |
| Inaugural holder | Mosiuoa Lekota |
| Formation | 7 May 1994 |
| Website | www.fs.gov.za/Premiers.htm |
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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]
Functions[]
The executive authority of a province is entrusted by the Constitution of South Africa in the premier. The premier designates an Executive Council made up of ten members of the provincial legislature. These Members of the Executive Council are effectively ministers and the Executive Council a cabinet at the provincial level. The premier can to appoint and dismiss members of the Executive Council at his/her 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 the premier 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 | Left office | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mosiuoa Lekota | 7 May 1994 | 18 December 1996 | African National Congress |
| 2 | Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri | 18 December 1996 | 15 June 1999 | African National Congress |
| 3 | Winkie Direko | 15 June 1999 | 26 April 2004 | African National Congress |
| 4 | Beatrice Marshoff | 26 April 2004 | 6 May 2009 | African National Congress |
| 5 | Ace Magashule | 6 May 2009 | 27 March 2018 | African National Congress |
| 6 | Sisi Ntombela | 27 March 2018 | incumbent | 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[]
- ^ Premier takes over. Retrieved on 25 June 2019.
- ^ Constitution of South Africa
External links[]
- Premiers of the Free State (province)
- Government of the Free State (province)