Public Services & Government

The Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) is a Defined Benefit pension fund that was established in May 1996, when various public sector funds were consolidated. The Fund's core business is to oversee pensions and other benefits for government employees in South Africa. The GEPF appoints the Government Pensions Administration Agency (GPAA) to administer benefits on behalf of the Fund and the Public Investment Corporation SOC Limited (PIC) as asset manager to invest on behalf of the Fund.

The Government Technical Advisory Centre (GTAC) is a government component in terms of the Public Service Act, with a central mandate to assist organs of state in building their capacity for efficient, effective and transparent financial management. GTAC's long-term strategic intent is to be a centre of excellence in analytical, advisory, institutional development and programme management support to public sector institutions, to better manage and implement their mandates and consequently improve their quality of spend. This will be done through partnerships with academic and research centres focused on public sector management and training. Within the context of government's National Development Plan and medium-term strategic framework, GTAC seeks to contribute to building a capable and development-orientated state, while also strengthening capacity to work with the private sector in promoting growth, employment, infrastructure investment and public service delivery. The main functions and activities include: transaction advisory services; capital projects appraisal; institutional development support; and public expenditure and policy analysis.

The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), together with the 12 professional boards under its ambit, is established to provide for control over the education, training and registration for practicing of health professions registered under the Health Professions Act 56 of 1974, as amended. In order to protect the public and guide the professions, the Council ensures practitioners uphold and maintain professional and ethical standards within the health professions.

The mission of the Housing Development Agency (HDA) is to build partnerships to create integrated sustainable human settlements. The functions of the Agency are to: develop a development plan to be approved by the Minister in consultation with the relevant authorities in the provinces and municipalities; develop strategic plans with regard to the identification and acquisition of state, privately and communally owned land that is suitable for residential and community development; prepare necessary documentation for consideration and approval by the relevant authorities as may be required in terms of any other applicable law; monitor progress of the development of land and landed property acquired for the purposes of creating sustainable human settlements; enhance the capacity of organs of state, including skills transfer to enable them to meet the demand for housing delivery; ensure that there is collaboration and intergovernmental and integrated alignment for housing development services; identify, acquire, hold, develop and release state, private and communal land for residential and community development; undertake such project management services as may be necessary, including assistance relating to approvals required for housing development; contract with any organ of state for the purpose of acquiring available land for residential housing and community development for the creation of sustainable human settlement; assist organs of state in dealing with housing developments that have not been completed within the anticipated project period; assist organs of state with the upgrading of informal settlements; and assist organs of state in respect of emergency housing solutions.

Serving South Africa for more than 50 years, the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) is the largest research institute in Africa focusing on the social sciences and humanities. It produces and disseminates knowledge that contributes to policies and programmes to alleviate poverty, reduce inequality, and stimulate innovations for employment creation. More than knowledge production, the HSRC works towards the uptake of research for policy and impact. Collaborations and partnerships are critical and include local, regional and international public, private and community entities.

The mission of the Independent Development Trust (IDT) is to manage and deliver integrated social infrastructure programmes on behalf of government on time, cost-effectively and through a people-centred approach. The IDT is a schedule 2 state-owned entity that manages the implementation and delivery of critically needed social infrastructure and social development programmes on behalf of the South African government. The IDT reports to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, who is the executive authority and the shareholder representative. The IDT's national office is located in Pretoria, and has provincial offices in the country's nine provinces. The IDT was established in 1990 and was allocated a grant of R2 billion by government to support education, housing, health services and business development projects in previously disadvantaged and mainly rural areas. After 1999, the IDT was reconfigured and listed as a schedule 2 programme implementation agency as prescribed by the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) 1 of 1999. From 1999 to date, the organisation has delivered approximately R27,4 billion worth of social infrastructure and social development programmes across the country.

The Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors (IRBA) was established under the Auditing Profession Act 26 of 2005 (APA) as amended, and commenced operations in April 2006. It is mandated to protect the financial interests of the public by setting competency requirements for auditors, issuing standards and a code of ethics, monitoring compliance, and disciplining auditors, when necessary. The execution of its mandate ensures that the financial interests of investors are protected, and high-quality audits are delivered, which, in turn, provides confidence in and reliance on financial statements and consequential investments. Over and above the legislated mandate, one of the IRBA's main priority areas is restoring confidence and trust in the auditing profession through its revised five-year strategy. This plan is focused on improved audit quality, comprehensive stakeholder engagement that emphasises collaboration without compromising independence and with the view to promote broader reforms, as well as sustainability and the relevance of the profession and that of the regulator to deliver on its mandate more effectively and efficiently.

The Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa Limited (IDC) was established in 1940 by Parliament's Industrial Development Corporation Act No 22 of 1940. The corporation was established to spearhead the development of domestic industrial capacity, especially in view of the shortage of manufactured goods experienced as a result of the disruption of trade between Europe and South Africa during the Second World War. Since its establishment, the corporation has been instrumental in implementing South Africa's industrial development policy, establishing some of the industries that have since become cornerstones of the country's manufacturing sector. These include the petrol-chemicals, mining and mineral beneficiation industries, fabricated metals, agro-industries, and clothing and textiles among others. Although our priorities and focus areas have evolved over the years in line with the policy direction of our shareholder (Government), the IDC remains committed to its objectives of developing South Africa and the continent's industrial capacity and, in doing so, playing a major role in facilitating job creation. By strengthening industrial capacity, the corporation achieves specific outcomes, the most important of which is to facilitate the creation of employment opportunities through companies we fund. The IDC remains committed to promoting sustainable growth and increasing sectoral diversity, thereby boosting local production of goods. In addition to job creation, IDC funding helps to promote regional development as well as economic integration including advancing Black Economic Empowerment initiatives. Furthermore, our role in the rest of Africa remains to proactively develop and implement strategies that create linkages and integrate value chains across the continent. Through our subsidiary sefa, the Corporation has played a critical role in promoting entrepreneurial development by supporting Small Medium Enterprises (SMES).

The mission of the Ingonyama Trust Board is to contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of the members of the traditional communities living on Ingonyama Trust land by ensuring that land management is to their benefit and in accordance with the laws of the land, and to develop progressive business models for the social and economic upliftment and the empowerment of the members of traditional communities on land administered by the Trust. The Board's strategic objectives are: unlocking an enabling environment conducive to development on Trust land; effective and efficient asset management services; and support to Traditional Councils in capacity building programmes.

The vision of the Inkomati-Usuthu Catchment Management Area (IUCMA) is to supply sufficient, equitable and quality water resources for all in the Inkomati-Usuthu Water Management Area. The mission of the IUCMA is to efficiently manage water resources by empowering our stakeholders in our quest to contribute towards transformation by promoting equal access to water and protecting our environment. The Agency supports the cooperative management of the Inkomati basin as an internationally shared watercourse. The decision-making environment of the Agency, including delegated functions, enables collaborative action towards equity, sustainability and efficiency in a continually evolving socio-economic system. The Agency manages the resources adaptively, cooperatively and progressively to achieve social, economic and environmental justice, and promote healthy living. The Agency's functions are derived from the National Water Act 36 of 1998. They are, among others, to: s80-investigate and advise interested persons on the protection, use, development, conservation, management and control of the water resources in its water management area; develop a catchment management strategy; coordinate the related activities of water users and of the water management institutions within its water management area; promote the coordination of its implementation with the implementation of any applicable development plan; promote community participation in the protection, use, development, conservation, management and control of the water resources in its water management area; s19&20-prevent and remedy effects of pollution; and control emergency incidents in respect of water resource pollution or potential water resource pollution. Other delegated functions include; S25, 33, 34, 35, 40, 41, 42, 44, 53, 54, 55, 57 and 58.

The aim of the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) is to foster economic growth and development in order to raise incomes and promote investment and employment in South Africa and within the Common Customs Union Area by establishing an efficient and effective system for the administration of international trade, subject to the International Trade Administration Act and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Agreement. The Commission's core functions are: customs tariff investigations; trade remedies; and import and export control.

South African Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), providing a One-Stop-Shop service to investors. It provides investment promotion, facilitation and aftercare, which is geared at fast-tracking projects and reducing government red-tape.

The iSimangaliso Authority's business is to conserve the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and to create jobs and benefits for communities living in and adjacent to the Park through optimal tourism-based development. iSimangaliso is therefore in the business of conservation, local economic development and tourism. Park establishment programmes have seen the removal of some 12 000ha of alien plants and commercial forests. Wetland and dune rehabilitation programmes, the introduction of game, runway upgrades, the building of new roads, game fences, new water supply, and bulk electricity supply systems and substations have all contributed to building the new Park.

The Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS) is an organ of the South African Government, whose mandate is to uphold and protect the rights of all inmates who are incarcerated. JICS is responsible for the independent oversight of the Department of Correctional Services and must therefore report thereon to the Ministry of Justice, Correctional Services and the portfolio committee.

The Land and Agricultural Development Bank of South Africa (Land Bank) is a specialist agricultural bank established in 1912. The Bank's objective is to serve South Africa's commercial and emerging farmers by bringing specially designed financial services within their reach. These services enable farmers to finance land, equipment, improve assets and obtain production credit. Land Bank's vision is to be a world-class agricultural development bank that stimulates growth, drives solid performance and spurs innovation. The vision is realised through the quest to work with all stakeholders in building an adaptive and competitive agricultural sector that drives environmental, social and economic growth and development, thus contributing to food security.