THREE-SPHERE FORM OF GOVERNMENT


CO-OPERATION, CONSULTATION AN LAW-MAKING AND THE NATIONAL


South Africa is a unitary state with federal characteristics and relations among the three levels of government based on the principle of co-operation. The Secretary of the National Council of Provinces explains how his Chamber ensures that the interests of the provinces are protected at national level.


Adv. Modibedi Phindela in Cape Town.


Mr Phindela became the Secretary of the National Council of Provinces in 2010, having served as its Acting Secretary. A former Deputy Dean and law lecturer, he was a Constitutional Court researcher, sat on the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration and was an official of the Mpumalanga Legislature and the Pan-African Parliament..


Section 40 of the South African constitution defines government in the republic as national, provincial and local. These spheres, although distinct, are interdependent and interrelated. Co-operation rather than competition is a golden thread that runs through the constitutional scheme that underlies the spheres of government. The spheres are distinct in the sense that they are assigned different powers, and interdependent because the national sphere is required to assist the provincial sphere in the event that the latter, due to lack of capacity and resources, is unable to fulfil its obligations. The provincial sphere, in the same manner, is required to assist the local sphere. Lastly, they are interrelated in the sense that they must co-exist. To reinforce the distinct nature of the three spheres, the constitution


64 | The Parliamentarian | 2013: Issue One - South Africa


assigns to them functions peculiar to each. These are referred to as functional areas of exclusive legislative competence. On the other hand, to ensure the interdependence of the spheres, the constitution provides for what is referred to as functional areas of concurrent legislative competence.


Intergovernmental relations and a dispute mechanism Whereas the constitution compels the spheres of government to maintain their distinctive nature in the exercise of their powers, at the same time it enjoins them to co-operate (rather than compete) in their operations. Although the constitution does not define these concepts, it is clear that it is within the distinct, interdependent and interrelated nature of the spheres of government that the principles


Advocate Modibedi Phindela


of co-operative government and intergovernmental relations find expression.


The fact that these two different concepts are used in a single sentence results in them often being conflated and sometimes used interchangeably as if they mean the same thing. But in the wording


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