13) mandates the National Treasury to ensure transparency, accountability, and sound financial controls in the management of public finances.

The National Treasury’s legislative mandate is also described in the Public Finance Management Act (Chapter 2). The National Treasury is mandated to promote government’s fiscal policy framework; to coordinate macroeconomic policy and intergovernmental financial relations; to manage the budget preparation process; to facilitate the Division of Revenue Act, which provides for an equitable distribution of nationally raised revenue between national, provincial, and local government; and to monitor the implementation of provincial budgets.

As mandated by the executive and Parliament, the National Treasury will continue to support the optimal allocation and utilization of financial resources in all spheres of government to reduce poverty and vulnerability among South Africa’s most marginalized.

Over the next 10 years, National Treasury priorities include increasing investment in infrastructure and industrial capital; improving education and skills development to raise productivity; improving the regulation of markets and public entities; and fighting poverty and inequality through efficient public service delivery, expanded employment levels, income support and empowerment.