There are 9 provinces: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, Limpopo, North West and Western Cape.

Each province has its own provincial government. This is made up of a provincial legislature and a provincial executive.

PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURES

The provincial legislatures write laws called ordinances for their provinces. Only people living in the province and people visiting it have to follow these laws.

Members of provincial legislatures are elected during the national general elections, which take place every 5 years. There will be between 30 and 80 members in each provincial legislature.

PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVES

The provincial executives are made up of the premier and the executive council of that province. The executive council consists of the premier and not more than 10 members appointed by the premier.

POWERS OF THE PROVINCES

Provincial governments have decision-making powers for their own provinces. They can make their own constitutions and their own laws, but these must follow the national Constitution. Provincial legislatures can pass laws on any matter in the functional areas listed in Schedules 4 and 5 of the Constitution. National and provincial government share powers to make laws about some issues, like health, welfare and education. National government is responsible for setting national standards on these issues, so laws written by provinces must follow national standard-setting legislation.