The Constitution provides for the Premier exercising the executive authority, together with the Executive Council, in the Province by:
- Heading provincial government;
- Implementing provincial legislation;
- Implementing all national legislation falling within legislative competence of province;
- Administering national legislation falling outside legislative competence assigned to province;
- Developing and implementing provincial policy;
- Co-ordinating functions of the provincial administration and its departments;
- Preparing and initiating provincial legislation; and
- Performing any other function assigned to the provincial executive.
The following functions are assigned to the Premier specifically:
- Assenting to and signing Bills;
- Referring Bill back to legislature for reconsideration of Bill’s constitutionality;
- Referring Bill to Constitutional Court for a decision on the Bill’s constitutionality;
- Summoning the legislature to an extraordinary sitting to conduct special business;
- Appointing commissions of inquiry; and
- Calling a referendum in the province in accordance with national legislation.
The following mandates are also assigned to the Premier by the Constitution:
- Appointing Members of Executive Council, assigning their powers and functions and dismissing them;
- Transferring functions of Members of the Executive Council; and
- Temporary assignment of a function of a Member of the Executive Council to another.