[1] Besides the premier, the provincial cabinet consists of ten ministers overseeing thirteen departments.

[2] These are the thirteen departments in the Western Cape Government: South Africa has a single national judiciary; there is no separate system of provincial courts.

The Western Cape Division of the High Court of South Africa has jurisdiction over all cases arising in the province, but generally handles only the most serious or high-profile criminal trials, high-value civil trials, cases involving judicial review of legislation or executive actions, and appeals from the magistrates' courts.

Judges of the High Court periodically go on circuit to hear cases in parts of the province distant from Cape Town.

The regional magistrate's court for the Western Cape, which sits at multiple locations in the province, has jurisdiction over all criminal cases except treason and can impose a fine of up to R300,000 or a prison sentence of up to fifteen years (or life in some circumstances).