Republic of South Africa Constitution Act, 1961/1962-06-15

as amended by

Provincial Executive Committees Act, No. 28 of 1962

Constitution Amendment Act, No. 65 of 1962

21. (1) (a) The State President may appoint any person to hold office during his pleasure as Deputy Minister of any specified Department of State or Deputy Minister of such other description as the State President may determine, and to exercise or perform on behalf of a Minister any of the powers, functions and duties entrusted to such Minister under any law or otherwise which may, subject to the directions of the State President, be assigned to him from time to time by the said Minister.

(b) Not more than six persons may be appointed under this sub-section.

(c) Any reference in any law to a deputy to a Minister shall be construed as including a reference to a Deputy Minister appointed under this sub-section, and any such reference to a Minister shall be construed as including a reference to a Deputy Minister acting in pursuance of an assignment under paragraph (a) by the Minister for whom he acts.

(2) Any person appointed under this section shall before assuming the duties of his office make and subscribe before the State President or a person designated by him for the purpose, an oath in such form as the State President may determine.

(3) No person appointed under this section shall hold office for a longer period than three months unless he is or becomes a member of the Senate or the House of Assembly.

(4) Any person appointed under sub-section (3) of section fourteen of the South Africa Act, 1909, and holding office immediately prior to the commencement of this Act, shall be deemed to have been duly appointed under this section, and may, subject to the provisions of this section, continue to exercise or perform any powers, duties and functions which immediately prior to such commencement could be exercised or performed by him by virtue of a determination under sub-section (3) of the first-mentioned section, as if he were authorized to exercise such powers or perform such duties or functions in pursuance of a determination made by the Minister concerned in terms of this section, but shall make and subscribe the oath required under sub-section (2) before assuming the duties of his office.