The South African Government, established in 1968, operates as a parliamentary republic with a three-tier system and independent judiciary. The national government consists of three branches: the legislative (Parliament with National Assembly and National Council of Provinces based in Cape Town), the executive (President, Deputy President and 32 Ministers based in Pretoria), and the judicial (Constitutional Court, Supreme Court of Appeal, and High Court). The second tier comprises nine provincial governments, each with legislatures and executives led by Premiers. The third tier consists of local governments organized as metropolitan, district, and local municipalities. All levels operate under the Constitution through a cooperative governance model, with each having distinct yet interdependent powers, operating with an annual budget of R2.37 trillion (2024).