| 1 | African National Congress (ANC) | Ruling political party | Governing mandate, policy control, state appointments | Cyril Ramaphosa, NEC, provincial leaders | High |
| 2 | Presidency | Executive leadership | Constitutional head, policy direction, international relations | Cyril Ramaphosa, presidential advisors | High |
| 3 | South African Reserve Bank | Central banking | Monetary policy, inflation targeting, financial stability | Governor Lesetja Kganyago, MPC members | High |
| 4 | National Treasury | Fiscal policy | Budget allocation, economic policy, SOE oversight | Minister Enoch Godongwana, DG Dondo Mogajane | High |
| 5 | Constitutional Court | Highest judicial authority | Constitutional interpretation, rights protection | Chief Justice, constitutional judges | Moderate |
| 6 | Parliament (National Assembly) | Legislative authority | Law-making, executive oversight, budget approval | Speaker, party whips, portfolio committees | Moderate |
| 7 | Provincial Governments | Regional governance | Provincial administration, service delivery | Provincial premiers, MECs | Moderate |
| 8 | Democratic Alliance (DA) | Main opposition party | Political opposition, governance in Western Cape | John Steenhuisen, Helen Zille, Alan Winde | Mixed |
| 9 | Eskom | State power utility | Electricity generation/distribution, energy security | CEO, board of directors, government oversight | Mixed |
| 10 | Transnet | State logistics company | Ports, rail, pipelines infrastructure | CEO, board, transport minister | Mixed |
| 11 | Mining Companies (Anglo, Glencore, etc.) | Resource extraction | Economic output, employment, export earnings | CEOs, mining executives, industry associations | High |
| 12 | JSE-listed Banks (Standard, FNB, etc.) | Financial services | Credit provision, economic financing, payment systems | Bank CEOs, banking association | High |
| 13 | Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) | Radical opposition party | Political opposition, policy influence | Julius Malema, central command team | Low |
| 14 | Trade Union Federations (COSATU, etc.) | Labor representation | Wage negotiations, political influence, strikes | Union leaders, federation executives | Mixed |
| 15 | Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) | Business representation | Private sector advocacy, policy lobbying | CEO, major corporate members | High |
| 16 | National Prosecuting Authority | Criminal prosecution | Law enforcement, corruption prosecutions | National Director, prosecutors | Moderate |
| 17 | South African Communist Party | Ideological influence | ANC alliance partner, policy influence | General Secretary, central committee | Low |
| 18 | Inkatha Freedom Party | Regional party | KwaZulu-Natal influence, traditional authority | Velenkosini Hlabisa, traditional leaders | Mixed |
| 19 | State Security Agency | Intelligence services | National security, intelligence gathering | Director-General, intelligence leadership | Mixed |
| 20 | Competition Commission | Market regulation | Antitrust enforcement, merger control | Commissioner, tribunal members | Moderate |