The Council of Ministers consists of the Ministers responsible for Finance and for Trade, Commerce and/or Industry from each Member State. 

As outlined in Article 8 of the Agreement (as amended in 2013), the SACU Council of Ministers is responsible for decision-making on the overall policy direction and functioning of the SACU institutions, including the formulation of policy mandates, procedures and guidelines for these Institutions. Amongst others, the Council appoints the Executive Secretary of SACU and members of the SACU Tariff Board. The Council also approves the budget of the Secretariat, the Tariff Board and the ad hoc Tribunal.

The Council oversees the implementation of the policies of SACU and approves customs tariffs, rebates, refunds or drawbacks and trade related remedies, upon recommendation from the Tariff Board. The Council also has the authority to create additional Technical Liaison Committees and other Institutions and to determine and alter their terms of reference.

The Chairperson of the SACU Council of Ministers

The current Chairperson of the SACU Council of Ministers is Honourable Dr. Retšelisitsoe Matlanyane, as from 15^th July 2023.

The SACU Agreement and the Rules of Procedure of the Council make provision for the chairmanship of Council to be held in turn by each Member State in alphabetical order for a period of twelve (12) calendar months, commencing on 15^th July of a given year. 

The Chairmanship of SACU since the entry into force of the Agreement on 15^th July 2004, is as outlined below: