Premier of the Western Cape

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Premier of the Western Cape
Alan Winde (cropped) (2).jpg
Incumbent
Alan Winde
since 22 May 2019
Western Cape Government
Style Premier
The Honourable
Type Head of government
Member of National Council of Provinces
Member of the Executive Council
Residence Leeuwenhof
Seat Cape Town
Appointer Western Cape Provincial Parliament
Term length Five years, renewable once
Constituting instrument Constitution of South Africa
Constitution of the Western Cape
Inaugural holder Hernus Kriel
Formation7 May 1994
Salary R2,3 million
Website Official website

The premier of the Western Cape is the head of government of the Western Cape province of South Africa. The current premier of the Western Cape is Alan Winde, a member of the Democratic Alliance, who was elected in the 2019 election. He took office on 22 May 2019. [1] [2] [3]

Functions

In terms of the provincial constitution, the executive authority of the province is vested in the premier. The premier appoints the provincial cabinet made up of ten members of the provincial parliament; they are known as provincial ministers. The premier has the ability to appoint and dismiss provincial ministers at his/her own discretion.

The premier and the provincial cabinet are responsible for implementing provincial legislation, along with any national legislation assigned to the province. They set provincial policy and manage the departments of the provincial government; their actions are subject to the national constitution and the provincial constitution.

In order for an act of the provincial parliament to become law, the premier must sign it. If he/she believes that the act is unconstitutional, it can be referred back to the provincial parliament for reconsideration. If the premier and the provincial parliament cannot agree, the act must be referred to the Constitutional Court for a final decision.

The premier is also ex officio a member of the National Council of Provinces, the upper house of Parliament, as one of the special delegates from the province. [4]

List

No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of officePolitical party
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
1 No image.png Hernus Kriel (1941–2015)7 May 199411 May 19984 years, 4 days National Party
2 No image.png Gerald Morkel (1941–2018)11 May 199812 November 20013 years, 185 days New National Party
No image.png Cecil Herandien (acting)12 November 20015 December 200123 days New National Party
3 Peter Marais.png Peter Marais (born 1948)5 December 20013 June 2002180 days New National Party
No image.png Piet Meyer (acting)3 June 200221 June 200218 days New National Party
4 Marthinus van Schalkwyk crop.jpg Marthinus van Schalkwyk (born 1959)21 June 200223 April 20041 year, 307 days New National Party
No image.png Leonard Ramatlakane (acting)23 April 200430 April 20047 days African National Congress
5 Ebrahim Rasool at the Pentagon July 25, 2012.jpg Ebrahim Rasool (born 1962)30 April 200425 July 20084 years, 86 days African National Congress
6 Lynne-Brown.jpg Lynne Brown (interim) (born 1961)25 July 20086 May 2009285 days African National Congress
7 Premier of the Western Cape (8053071289) (cropped).jpg Helen Zille (born 1951)6 May 200922 May 201910 years, 16 days Democratic Alliance
8 Alan Winde.jpg Alan Winde (born 1965)22 May 2019incumbent6 years, 4 days Democratic Alliance

Election

The election for the Western Cape Provincial Parliament is held every five years, simultaneously with the election of the National Assembly; the last such election occurred on 8 May 2019. At the first meeting of the provincial parliament after an election, the members choose the premier from amongst themselves. The provincial parliament can force the premier to resign by a motion of no confidence. If the premiership becomes vacant (for whatever reason) the provincial parliament must choose a new premier to serve out the period until the next election. One person cannot have served more than two five-year terms as premier; however, when a premier is chosen to fill a vacancy the time until the next election does not count as a term.

The following table details the election results for the premier on the first sitting of the Sixth Provincial Parliament held on 22 May 2019.

CandidateVotes %
Alan Winde (DA)2470.6%
Cameron Dugmore (ANC)1029.4%
Total34100%
Valid votes3485.0%
Spoilt ballots615.0%
Total votes cast40100%

See also

References