From working groups to advisers: How the presidency works

At the apex of government, the presidency provides leadership and co-ordination that enables the integration and efficiency of the government, with the cabinet as the highest decision-making structure. 

Like all political offices at this level globally, the private office of the president and the office of the deputy president are both technocratic and political in character and function.

The president and deputy president are supported by a combination of:

• Ministries or departments located within the presidency as part of the government’s prioritisation of key sectors or issues; 
• Public servants, some of whom predate the current president and deputy president. They are engaged in the day-to-day operations of the presidency — with the director-general of the presidency serving as secretary to the cabinet and convenor of the Forum of South African DGs; 
• Advisers, who are appointed by the president and deputy president based on their areas of professional and political specialisation. They provide strategic support to the president;
• Presidential working groups;
• Advisory councils;
• Interministerial committees; and
• People who are appointed from time to time to assist — in the spirit of growing SA together — in the resolution of particular responses to challenges in the country, or the development of innovations.

These support mechanisms are designed to enable the president and deputy president to exercise their leadership.

They  provide guidance and feedback to enrich the president and deputy president's engagement with, and leadership of, all sectors of society, and enable them  to co-ordinate and undertake oversight over the implementation of cabinet decisions.

SA’s development objectives are many  and diverse, as are its challenges.  This calls for detailed, specialised attention to issues, as well as the ability to integrate and co-ordinate programmes for impact and to avoid duplication or a lack of focus.

Like all government departments, the presidency has for a number of years been subject to recruitment freezes, which have reduced the headcount. It has undertaken budget reprioritisation and other forms of restructuring to ensure it  remains effective.

Furthermore, the building of the capacity of the state is a process that is ongoing in the presidency itself, in order that the presidency can drive the government’s programme of action, and that its operations are in line with best practice globally. This is important in view of the important role SA plays continentally and globally.