In South Africa, the Executive Council of a province is the cabinet of the provincial government.[1] The Executive Council consists of the Premier and five to ten other members,[2] who have the title "Member of the Executive Council", commonly abbreviated to "MEC".[1]
MECs are appointed by the Premier from amongst the members of the provincial legislature; the Premier can also dismiss them. The provincial legislature may force the Premier to reconstitute the council by passing a motion of no confidence in the Executive Council excluding the Premier; if the legislature passes a motion of no confidence in the Executive Council including the Premier, then the Premier and the MECs must resign.[2]
The Premier designates powers and functions to the MECs; conventionally they are assigned portfolios in specific areas of responsibility. They are accountable to the provincial legislature, both individually and as a collective, and must regularly report to the legislature on the performance of their responsibilities.[2]
The Western Cape, the only province to have adopted its own constitution, chose to call its executive council the "Provincial Cabinet", and its MECs "Provincial Ministers".[3]
- ^ a b "Provincial government". SouthAfrica.info. Archived from the original on 17 March 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
- ^ a b c Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, Chapter 6: "Provinces", ss. 125–141
- ^ Constitution of the Western Cape, 1997, Chapter 4: "Executive".