Free State Online

Provincial Departments

The Free State provincial government comprises of the Office of the Premier and ten provincial departments.

The Office of the Premier has executive, policy, legislative, intergovernmental and ceremonial functions and responsibilities as defined in Chapter 6 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. The Director-General serves as the Head of Department of the Office of the Premier and is responsible for the execution of duties and responsibilities as derived from, inter alia, the Public Service Act and the Public Finance Management Act. This includes administrative leadership, planning, monitoring, coordination and delivery in accordance with the Public Service Act, 1994 as amended, together with the regulations.

The Office of the Premier has executive, policy, legislative, intergovernmental and ceremonial functions and responsibilities as defined in Chapter 6 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. The Director-General serves as the Head of Department of the Office of the Premier and is responsible for the execution of duties and responsibilities as derived from, inter alia, the Public Service Act and the Public Finance Management Act. This includes administrative leadership, planning, monitoring, coordination and delivery in accordance with the Public Service Act, 1994 as amended, together with the regulations.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is mandated to ensure that the citizens of the Free State are provided with means to secure food for their families. In order to realise this objective we have embarked on several initiatives that enable farming communities, specifically developing communities, to participate in projects aimed at improving their livelihood.Our mandated on Agriculture is to ensure that the citizens of the Free State are provided with means to secure FOOD for their families.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is mandated to ensure that the citizens of the Free State are provided with means to secure food for their families. In order to realise this objective we have embarked on several initiatives that enable farming communities, specifically developing communities, to participate in projects aimed at improving their livelihood.Our mandated on Agriculture is to ensure that the citizens of the Free State are provided with means to secure FOOD for their families.

In order to realise this objective we have embarked on several initiatives that enable farming communities, specifically developing communities, to participate in projects aimed at improving their livelihood.

The Department was formerly known as the Department of Local Government and Housing and was reconfigured after the 2009 general elections to constitute the Department of Cooperative Governance, Traditional Affairs and Human Settlements. The executive authority of the Department is vested in the responsible Member of the Executive Council whilst two Heads of Departments are responsible for each of the functional areas, namely the HOD: Cooperative Governance & Traditional Affairs and the HOD: Human Settlements.

The Department was formerly known as the Department of Local Government and Housing and was reconfigured after the 2009 general elections to constitute the Department of Cooperative Governance, Traditional Affairs and Human Settlements. The executive authority of the Department is vested in the responsible Member of the Executive Council whilst two Heads of Departments are responsible for each of the functional areas, namely the HOD: Cooperative Governance & Traditional Affairs and the HOD: Human Settlements.

The scope of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs include the coordination of inter-governmental relations between the provincial and local spheres of government, the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) Programme, Local Economic Development, the Community Works Programme and Operation Clean Audit. The Traditional Affairs component includes the establishment and functionality of the Free State House of Traditional Leaders and the respective Traditional Councils. . 

To be a Department that strives to ensure progressive realization of universal schooling, improving quality of education and eliminating disparities amongst Free State citizen.

To be a Department that strives to ensure progressive realization of universal schooling, improving quality of education and eliminating disparities amongst Free State citizen.

The executive authority of the Department is vested in the responsible Member of the Executive Council with responsible Head of Department serving as the accounting officer. Three functional areas fall within the mandate of the Department, namely Economic, small business development ,tourism and environmental Affairs.

The executive authority of the Department is vested in the responsible Member of the Executive Council with responsible Head of Department serving as the accounting officer. Three functional areas fall within the mandate of the Department, namely Economic, small business development ,tourism and environmental Affairs.

Programmes of the Economic, small business development ,tourism and environmental Affairs include Environmental Affairs (Environmental Quality Management, Environmental Policy, Coordination Planning and Empowerment, Compliance and Enforcement and Biodiversity Management) and Economic Development (Integrated Economic Planning and Development, Sector Development, Business Regulation and Governance and Tourism Support). 

The Department of Health is responsible for providing quality, accessible and comprehensive health services through a family and community -based Primary Health Care (PHC) approach to the Free State community. The programmes of the Department include: District Health Services, Emergency Medical (and Rescue) Services, Provincial Hospitals, Central and Tertiary Hospitals, Health Sciences and Training, Health Care Support Services and Health Facilities Management.

The Department of Health is responsible for providing quality, accessible and comprehensive health services through a family and community -based Primary Health Care (PHC) approach to the Free State community. The programmes of the Department include; District Health Services, Emergency Medical (and Rescue) Services, Provincial Hospitals, Central and Tertiary Hospitals, Health Sciences and Training, Health Care Support Services and Health Facilities Management.

The Department of Community Safety, Roads and Transport was established following the re-assignment of the functions of roads and transport from the former Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport to the former Department of Public Safety, Security and Liaison. Programmes of the Department include Civilian Oversight, Crime Prevention and Community Police Relations, Public and Freight Management, Traffic Management and Roads Infrastructure.

The Department of Community Safety, Roads and Transport was established following the re-assignment of the functions of roads and transport from the former Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport to the former Department of Public Safety, Security and Liaison. Programmes of the Department include Civilian Oversight, Crime Prevention and Community Police Relations, Public and Freight Management, Traffic Management and Roads Infrastructure.

The aim of the Department is to promote socio-economic inclusiveness for shared growth through: Innovative fiscal management; Sustainable resource management; and Good governance.

The aim of the Department is to promote socio-economic inclusiveness for shared growth through: Innovative fiscal management; Sustainable resource management; and Good governance.

The aim of the Department is Coordination, Provision, Promotion of Built-Infrastructure and Sound Management of Assets. The programmes of the Department of Public Works include Public Works (Works Design, Construction and Maintenance, Property Management and Security Services) and the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).

The aim of the Department is Coordination, Provision, Promotion of Built-Infrastructure and Sound Management of Assets. The programmes of the Department of Public Works include Public Works (Works Design, Construction and Maintenance, Property Management and Security Services) and the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).

The programme of the Department of Social Development include Social Welfare Services such as Substance Abuse, Prevention and Rehabilitation, Care and Services to Older Persons, Social Crime Prevention and Support, Persons with Disabilities, Child Care and Protection Services, Victim Empowerment, HIV and AIDS, Social Relief and Services to Families. It also includes Development and Research Services, including youth development, sustainable livelihoods and population capacity development and advocacy.

The programme of the Department of Social Development include Social Welfare Services such as Substance Abuse, Prevention and Rehabilitation, Care and Services to Older Persons, Social Crime Prevention and Support, Persons with Disabilities, Child Care and Protection Services, Victim Empowerment, HIV and AIDS, Social Relief and Services to Families. It also includes Development and Research Services, including youth development, sustainable livelihoods and population capacity development and advocacy.

The main aim of the Department is the promotion, development and transformation of sport, arts, culture and recreation in order to contribute to sustainable economic growth and opportunities; nation building; good governance; and social and human capital development.. Programmes of the Department include Cultural Affairs, Library and Archive Services and Sport and Recreation.

The main aim of the Department is the promotion, development and transformation of sport, arts, culture and recreation in order to contribute to sustainable economic growth and opportunities; nation building; good governance; and social and human capital development.. Programmes of the Department include Cultural Affairs, Library and Archive Services and Sport and Recreation.

The Department will develop cohesive, sustainable and integrated human settlements in the Free State, through:

    • Sound administration and engagement of all spheres of government and social partners
    • Functional settlements that are spatially, socially and economically integrated
    • Provision of affordable housing
    • Increased access to basic services
    • Acceleration of land tenure rights

The Department will develop cohesive, sustainable and integrated human settlements in the Free State, through:

    • Sound administration and engagement of all spheres of government and social partners
    • Functional settlements that are spatially, socially and economically integrated
    • Provision of affordable housing
    • Increased access to basic services
    • Acceleration of land tenure rights