Amendments to the Constitution

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Timeline(Manner of reference to the Act, previously “Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996”, substituted by s. 1 (1) of the Citation of Constitutional Laws, 2005 (Act No. 5 of 2005) [Assented to 10 December 1996]

Date of Promulgation: 18 December, 1996

Date of Commencement: 4 February, 1997 (unless otherwise indicated - see also s. 243[5])

(English text signed by the President)

as amended by
Constitution First Amendment Act, 1997 (Act 35 of 1997)
Constitution Second Amendment Act, 1998 (Act 65 of 1998)
Constitution Third Amendment Act, 1998 (Act 87 of 1998)
Constitution Fourth Amendment Act, 1999 (Act 03 of 1999)
Constitution Fifth Amendment Act, 1999 (Act 02 of 1999)
Constitution Sixth Amendment Act, 2001 (Act 34 of 2001)
Constitution Seventh Amendment Act, 2001 (Act 61 of 2001)
Constitution Eighth Amendment Act, 2002 (Act 18 of 2002)
Constitution Ninth Amendment Act, 2002 (Act 21 of 2002)
Constitution Tenth Amendment Act, 2003 (Act 02 of 2003)
Constitution Eleventh Amendment Act, 2003 (Act 03 of 2003)
Constitution Twelfth Amendment Act of 2005
Constitution Thirteenth Amendment Act of 2007 (Act 23 of 2007)
Constitution Fourteenth Amendment Act of 2008
Constitution Fifteenth Amendment Act of 2008
Constitution Sixteenth Amendment Act of 2009
Constitution Seventeenth Amendment Act of 2012

In terms of Proclamation No. 26 of 26 April, 2001, the administration of this Act has been assigned to the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development.

Government Gazettes (2000 to date)

  • Constitution of the Republic of South Africa: Evaluation Panel to assess performance of Chairperson, other Councillors, and Council of Independent Communications Authority of South Africa: Nominations invited, GG 49108, GeN 1957, 11 Aug 2023
  • Constitution of the Republic of South Africa: Special remission of sentence for certain categories of sentenced offenders, correctional supervision and parolees (English / Afrikaans), GG 49106, P 133, 11 Aug 2023
  • Constitution Twentieth Amendment Private Members Bill: Explanatory summary: Comments by 11 Jun 2023 invited, GG 48589, GoN 3410, 12 May 2023
  • Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996: Transfer of administration and powers and functions entrusted by Legislation to certain Cabinet members, GG 48524, P 119, 5 May 2023
  • Constitution Eighteenth Amendment Bill: Explanatory summary, GG 47665, GeN 1498, 9 Dec 2022
  • Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Constitution Eighteenth Amendment Bill: Section 6: Recognition of South African Sign Language as an official language. Comments invited not later than 31 Aug 2022, GG 47049, GeN 1156, 19 Jul 2022
  • Constitution of the Republic of South Africa: Transfer of administration, powers and functions entrusted by legislation to certain Cabinet Members ito Section 97 (English / isiZulu), GG 45500, P 41, 19 Nov 2021
  • Constitution of the Republic of South Africa: Transfer of administration, functions, powers entrusted by legislation to certain Cabinet Members in terms of Section 97 of the Constitution (English / isiZulu), GG 43474, P 22, 26 Jun 2020
  • Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996: Establishment of National Security Council, GG 43083, P13, 10 Mar 2020
  • Constitution Eighteenth Amendment Bill: Draft - Comment by 31 Jan 2020, GG 42902, GeN 652, 13 Dec 2019
  • Constitution of the Republic of South Africa: Transfer of administration, powers and functions entrusted by legislation to certain Cabinet Members into section 97 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, GG 42657, P 49, 23 Aug 2019
  • Constitution of the Republic of South Africa: Transfer of administration of legislation and power functions in terms of section 97 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, GG 42601, P 48, 30 Jul 2019
  • Constitution of the Republic of South Africa: Rules: First sitting of National Assembly, National Council of Provinces and provincial legislatures, GG 42395, GeN 230, 11 Apr 2019
  • Constitution of the Republic of South Africa: Rules: First sitting of National Assembly, National Council of Provinces and provincial legislatures, GG 42386, GeN 207, 05 Apr 2019
  • Constitution of the Republic of South Africa: Dissolution of the National Assembly, GG 42250, GeN 97, 26 Feb 2019
  • Constitution of the Republic of South Africa: Transfer of functions under section 97 of the Constitution: Recognition of Customary Marriages Act (English / Afrikaans), GG 41915, RG 10869, P 24, 21 Sep 2018
  • Constitution Amendment Bill: Draft: Extension of deadline for comments, GG 41481, GeN 100, 5 Mar 2018
  • Publication of particulars of proposed amendment to the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, GG 41276, GoN 1310, 24 Nov 2017
  • Constitution of the Republic of South Africa: Executive Members’ Ethics Act: Transfer of functions (English/Afrikaans), GG 41230, RG 10777, P 34, 6 Nov 2017
  • Constitution of the Republic of South Africa: Transfer of administration of and powers and functions entrusted by legislation to Minister of Communications and Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, GG 38280, P 79, 02 Dec 2014
  • Constitution of the Republic of South Africa: Rules: First sitting of National Assembly, National Council of Provinces and provincial legislatures G 37442 GoN 182, 14 Mar 2014
  • Constitution Seventeenth Amendment Act: Commencement (23 Aug 2013), GG 36774, RG 10006, P 35, 22 Aug 2013
  • Transfer of functions under section 97 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996: Stock Theft Act, 1959 (Act 57 of 1959) and Game Theft Act, 1991 (Act 105 of 1991) - GG 34535, Proclamation 46 of 2011, GG 34535 - Notice R 46, 19 Aug 2011
  • Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996: Publication of bill amending Constitution: For public comment - GG 33216 - Notice R 414, 21 May 2010
  • Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996: Transfer of administration and powers and functions entrusted by legislation to certain cabinet members in terms of section 97 of the Constitution - GG 32367 - Notice R 44 - 1 Jul 2009
  • Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Fourth Amendment Bill, 2002 - GG 23941 - Notice R 1991, 11 October 2002

Other Historial Documents:

Text as at Tuesday, 29 August, 2023