The aim of the Department of Public Enterprises is to direct and manage the accelerated restructuring of state-owned enterprises to maximise shareholder value.

The Department has six programmes:

• Programme 1: Management & Administration This programme is responsible for the overall direction and management of the Department and the Ministry. It comprises the Ministry, the Office of the Director-General, Communications, the Internal Audit unit, Financial Management and the Corporate Services Chief directorate.
• Programme 2(a): Restructuring of State- Owned Enterprises The programme develops and implements the restructuring programme to meet Government's economic and social objectives. It is made up of the Energy and Telecommunications, Transport, Financial Modelling and Risk Analysis, Defence and Legal Services units.
• Programme 2(b): IPO Office The Initial Public Offering office is responsible for formulating and managing the implementation and execution of government's decisions with respect to the listing of state-owned enterprises on the domestic and international equity exchange markets.
• Programme 3(a): Performance Monitoring and Benchmarking This programme is responsible for monitoring and evaluating the financial, socio-economic and non-financial performance of state-owned enterprises, as well as to promote best performance management practices to enhance shareholder value through improved corporate governance structures.
• Programme 3(b): Strategic Analysis The aim of this programme is to develop strategic policy frameworks, analyse sector strategies and economic issues, to enable the accelerated restructuring of state-owned enterprises.
• Programme 4: Alternative Service Delivery The aim of this programme is to optimise service delivery in the accelerated restructuring of state-owned enterprises through alternative service delivery strategies.

The Department is responsible for 6 State-owned Enterprises, namely:

• Alexkor
• Aventura
• Eskom
• Safcol
• Telkom
• Transnet.