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Acts/Statutes administered by the Department

STATUTES PROMOTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Since 27 April 1994 , the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has promoted 108 Bills, which have been enacted by Parliament. In 1994 the Department promoted 5 Bills, 12 in 1995, 16 in 1996 as well as in 1997 and 1998, 3 in 1999 (election year), 7 in 2000, 10 in 2001, 14 in 2002, 8 in 2003 and 1 in 2004. This is an average of about 11 Bills per year. Forty of these statutes are entirely new statutes, giving an indication of the growth in our law since 1994, mainly in order to give effect to the new constitutional dispensation.

Follow this link to view the list of Acts with summaries and commencement date information (Dated: 21 Aug 2021) or a list the legislation enacted since 1994 (Dated: 10 Apr 2024).

To view legislation administered by other Departments you can visit any of the following sites: www.gov.za (legislation), www.lawsofsouthafrica.up.ac.za (legislation) or LawLibrary.org.za (legislation and judgments).

Copyright Juta & Company Limited (www.juta.co.za) and/or Government Printing Works (www.gpwonline.co.za) and/or GOV.ZA (www.gov.za/documents/acts).

Abolition of Civil Imprisonment Act, 1977 (Act 2 of 1977) Eng

Abolition of Corporal Punishment Act, 1997 (Act 33 of 1997) Eng

Abolition of Juries Act, 1969 (Act 34 of 1969) Eng

Abolition of Restrictions on the Jurisdiction of Courts Act, 1996 (Act 88 of 1996) Eng

Adjustment of Fines Act, 1991 (Act 101 of 1991) Eng

Administration Amendment Act, 1929 (Act 9 of 1929) Eng

Administration of Estates Act, 1965 (Act 66 of 1965) Eng / Regulations / Forms

Administration of Estates Laws Interim Rationalisation Act, 2001 (Act 20 of 2001) Forms

Admiralty Jurisdiction Regulation Act, 1983 (Act 105 of 1983) Eng

Apportionment of Damages Act, 1956 (Act 34 of 1956) Eng

Arbitration Act, 1965 (Act 42 of 1965) Eng

Assessment of Damages Act, 1969 (Act 9 of 1969) Eng

Attorneys’ Admission Amendment and Legal Practitioners’ Fidelity Fund Act, 1941 (Act 19 of 1941) Eng Only section 5 has not been repealed.

Attorneys Amendment Act, 2014 (Act 40 of 2014) Eng/Afr

Black High Court Abolition Act, 1954 (Act 13 of 1954) Eng

Child Justice Act, 2008 (Act 75 of 2008) Eng / Setswana / Regulations / Forms

Citation of Constitutional Laws Act, 2005 (Act 5 of 2005) Eng

Close Corporations Act, 1984 (Act 69 of 1984) Eng [The Department only administers Part IX]

Civil Proceedings Evidence Act, 1965 (Act 25 of 1965) Eng

Commissions Act, 1947 (Act 8 of 1947) Eng

Companies Act, 2008 (Act 71 of 2008) Eng / Regulations Part A-2.9mb,
Part B-4.1mb, Part C-8.4mb [Department only administers Chapters 14 and 15]

Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act 108 of 1996) Eng

Constitutional Court Complementary Act, 1995 (Act 13 of 1995) Eng 

Constitutional Matters Amendment Act, 2005 (Act 15 of 2005) Eng

Contingency Fees Act, 1997 (Act 66 of 1997) Eng 

Conventional Penalties Act, 1962 (Act 15 of 1962) Eng

Courts of Law Amendment Act, 2017 (Act 7 of 2017) Eng/Afr

Criminal Law (Forensic Procedures) Amendment Act

Criminal Law (Sentencing) Amendment Act, 2007 (Act 38 of 2007) Eng

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007 (Act 32 of 2007) Eng/Afr. Regulations: English/Afr. Forms

Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1997 (Act 105 of 1997) Eng 

Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1988 (Act 1 of 1988) Eng

Criminal Law Second Amendment Act, 1992 (Act 126 of 1992) Eng

Criminal Matters Amendment Act, 1998 (Act 68 of 1998) Eng 

Criminal and Related Matters Amendment Act, 2021 (Act 12 of 2021) Eng/Afr [Commencement on 5 August 2022, GG 47195, RG 11468, P 75, 4 Aug 2022]

Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 (Act 51 of 1977) Eng / Froms

Criminal Procedure Act, 1955 (Act 56 of 1955) Eng

Cross-Border Insolvency Act, 2000 (Act 42 of 2000) Eng 

Cybercrimes Act (Act 19 of 2020) Eng/Afr

Dangerous Weapons Act, 1968 (Act 71 of 1968) Eng [Department only administers section 4]

Decriminalization Act, 1991 (Act 107 of 1991) Eng

Debt Collectors Act, 1998 (Act 114 of 1998) Eng 

Determination of Delegates (National Council of Provinces) Act, 1998 (Act 69 of 1998) Eng

Determination of Remuneration of Office-Bearers of Independent Constitutional Institutions Laws Amendment Act, 2014 (Act 22 of 2014) Eng/Afr

Dissolution of Marriages on Presumption of Death Act, 1979 (Act 23 of 1979) Eng

Divorce Act, 1979 (Act 70 of 1979) Eng 

Documentary Evidence from Countries in Africa Act, 1993 (Act 62 of 1993) Eng

Domestic Violence Act, 1998 (Act 116 of 1998) English - Afrikaans - isiNdebele - isiXhosa - isiZulu - Sepedi - Sesotho - Tshivenda - Xitsonga

Domicile Act, 1992 (Act 3 of 1992) Eng

Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act, 1992 (Act 140 of 1992) Eng 

Enforcement of Foreign Civil Judgments Act, 1988 (Act 32 of 1988) Eng

Establishment of the Northern Cape Division of the Supreme Court of South Africa Act, 1969 (Act 15 of 1969) Eng

Extradition Act, 1962 (Act 67 of 1962) Eng

Foreign Courts Evidence Act, 1962 (Act 80 of 1962) Eng

Formalities in respect of Leases of Land Act, 1969 (Act 18 of 1969) Eng

Game Theft Act, 1991 (Act 105 of 1991) Eng

General Laws (Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Terrorism Financing) Amendment Act, 2022 (Act 22 of 2022) Eng/Afr

General Laws (Loss of Membership of National Assembly, Provincial Legislature or Municipal Council) Amendment Act, 2008 (Act 55 of 2008) Eng

Immovable Property (Removal or Modification of Restrictions) Act, 1965
(Act 94 of 1965) Eng

Implementation of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court Act, 2002 (Act 27 of 2002) Eng / Regulations

Indemnity Act, 1977 (Act 13 of 1977) Eng

Indemnity Act, 1961 (Act 61 of 1961) Eng

Inquests Act, 1959 (Act 58 of 1959) Eng

Insolvency Act, 1936 (Act 24 of 1936) Eng / Forms

Institution of Legal Proceedings Against Organs of State Act, 2002 (Act 40 of 2002) Eng 

Interim Rationalisation of Jurisdiction of High Courts Act, 2001 (Act 41 of 2001) Eng 

International Co-operation in Criminal Matters Act, 1996 (Act 75 of 1996) Eng 

Interpretation Act, 1957 (Act 33 of 1957) Eng

Intestate Succession Act, 1987 (Act 81 of1987) Eng / Forms

Investigation of Serious Economic Offences Amendment Act, 1995 (Act 46 of 1995) Eng

Judges' Remuneration and Conditions of Employment Act, 2001 (Act 47 of 2001) Eng 

Judicial Matters Amendment Act

Judicial Service Commission Act, 1994 (Act 9 of 1994) Eng 

Jurisdiction of Regional Courts Amendment Act, 2008 (Act 31 of 2008) Eng 

Justice Administered Fund Act 2 of 2017, (Act 2 of 2017) Eng/Set

Justice Laws Rationalisation Act, 1996 (Act 18 of 1996) Eng (The Bophuthatswana Ombudsman legislation was repealed with effect from 1 April 1999.  The Transkei and QwaQwa Ombudsman legislation was repealed with effect from 1 August 2000.)

Justices of the Peace and Commissioners of Oaths Act, 1963 (Act 16 of 1963) Eng / Regulations / Froms

Land Court Act, 2023 (Act 06 of 2023) Eng/Zul

Law of Evidence Amendment Act, 1988 (Act 45 of 1988) Eng

Law of Evidence and the Criminal Procedure Act Amendment Act, 1987 (Act 103 of 1987) Eng

Law of Succession Amendment Act, 1992 (Act 43 of 1992) Eng 

Legal Aid South Africa Act, 2014 (Act 39 of 2014) Eng / Regulations

Legal Practice Act, 2014 (Act 28 of 2014) English & Xhoza / Afrikaans / Setswana / siSwati / Xitsonga

Magistrates Act, 1993 (Act 90 of 1993) Eng 

Magistrates' Court Act, 1944 (Act 32 of 1944) Eng / Regulations

Maintenance Act, 1998 (Act 99 of 1998) Eng / Regulations / Froms

Maintenance of Surviving Spouses Act, 1990 (Act 27 of 1990) Eng 

Matrimonial Affairs Act, 1953 (Act 37 of 1953) Eng

Matrimonial Property Act, 184 (Act 88 of 1984) Eng

Mediation in Certain Divorce Matters Act, 1987 (Act 24 of 1987) Eng / Regulations

Natal Advocates and Attorneys Preservation of Rights Act, 1939 (Act 27 of 1939) Eng

Natal Conveyancers Act, 1926 (Act 24 of 1926) Eng

National Council of Provinces (Permanent Delegates Vacancies) Act, 1997 (Act 17 of 1997) Eng

National Prosecuting Authority Act, 1998 (Act 32 of 1998) Eng 

Petition Proceedings Replacement Act, 1976 (Act 35 of 1976) Eng

Pre-Union Statute Law Revision Act, 1977 (Act 43 of 1977) Eng

Pre-Union Statute Law Revision Act, 1976 (Act 36 of 1976) Eng

Pre-Union Statute Law Revision Act, 1970 (Act 42 of 1970) Eng

Pre-Union Statute Law Revision Act, 1967 (Act 78 of 1967) Eng

Prescribed Rate of Interest Act, 1975 (Act 55 of 1975) Eng

Prescription Act, 1969 (Act 68 of 1969) Eng

Prescription in Civil and Criminal Matters (Sexual Offences) Amendment Act, 2020 (Act 15 of 2020) Eng/Afr

Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, 2004 (Act 12 of 2004) Eng 

Prevention and combating of Hate Crimes and Hate speech Act, 2023 (Act 16 of 2023) English/Sepedi

Prevention and Combating of Torture of Persons Act, 2013 (Act 13 of 2013) Eng+1

Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act, 2013 (Act 7 of 2013) Eng - Directives - Forms - Regulations - Regulations S43(3)

Prevention of Counterfeiting of Currency Act, 1965 (Act 16 of 1965) Eng

Prevention of Family Violence Act, 1993 (Act 133 of 1993) Eng

Prevention of Organised Crime Act, 1998 (Act 121 of 1998) Eng 

Prevention of Public Violence and Intimidation Act, 1991 (Act 139 of 1991) Eng

Prize Jurisdiction Act, 1968 (Act 3 of 1968) Eng

Prohibition of Disguises Act, 1969 (Act 16 of 1969) Eng

Prohibition of the Exhibition of Films on Sundays and Public Holidays Act, 1977 (Act 16 of 1977) Eng

Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 (Act 2 of 2000) Eng / Regulations / Froms

Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, 2000 (Act 3 of 2000) Eng / Regulations

Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, 2000 (Act 4 of 2000) Eng / Regulations / Forms

Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act, 1995 (Act 34 of 1995) Eng / Regulations / Forms

Protected Disclosures Act, 2000 (Act 26 of 2000) Eng / Practical Guidelines for Employees in terms of section 10(4)(a) [GG 34572, Notice No.702]

Protection from Harassment Act, 2011 (Act 17 of 2011) Eng / Regulations / Forms

Protection of Information Act, 1982 (Act 84 of 1982) Eng 

Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (Act 4 of 2013) Eng / Regulations

Public Funding of Represented Political Parties Act, 1997 (Act 103 of 1997) Eng

Public Protector Act, 1994 (Act 23 of 1994) Eng 

Qualifications of Legal Practitioners Amendment Act, 1997 (Act 78 of 1997) Eng 

Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Orders (Countries in Africa) Act, 1989 (Act 6 of 1989) Eng

Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Orders Act, 1963 (Act 80 of 1963) Eng 

Reciprocal Service of Civil Process Act, 1990 (Act 12 of 1990) Eng

Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards Act, 1977 (Act 40 of 1977) Eng

Recognition of Customary Marriages Act, 1998 (Act 120 of 1998) Eng 

Recognition of Foreign Legal Qualifications and Practice Act, 1993 (Act 114 of 1993) Eng

Reform of Customary Law of Succession and Regulation of Related Matters Act, 2009 (Act 11 of 2009) Eng 

Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication Related Information Act, 2002 (Act 70 of 2002) Eng 

Reinstatement of Enrolment of Certain Legal Practitioners Act, 2002 (Act 32 of 2002) Eng 

Renaming of High Courts Act, 2008 (Act 30 of 2008) Eng 

Repeal of the Black Administration Act and Amendment of Certain Laws Act, 2005 (Act 28 of 2005) Eng 

Repeal of the Transkeian Penal Code Act, 2023 (Act 04 of 2023) Eng/Xho

Right of Appearance in the Courts Act, 1995 (Act 62 of 1995) Eng 

Riotous Assemblies Act, 1956 (Act 17 of 1956) Eng (Only sections 16, 17 and 18 of the Riotous Assemblies Act, 1956 (Act 17 of 1956), are still in force.)

Rules Board for Courts of Law Act, 1985 (Act 107 of 1985) Eng 

Security by Means of Movable Property Act, 1993 (Act 57 of 1993) Eng

Security Forces Board of Inquiry Act, 1993 (Act 95 of 1993) Eng

Sexual Offences Act, 1957 (Act 23 of 1957) Eng

Sherrifs Act, 1986 (Act 90 of 1986) Eng 

Short Process Courts and Mediation in Certain Civil Cases Act, 1991 (Act 103 of 1991) Eng

Small Claims Court Act, 1984 (Act 61 of 1984) Eng / Regulations / Froms

South African Human Rights Commission Act, 2013 (Act 40 of 2013) Eng

South African Judicial Education Institute Act, 2008 (Act 14 of 2008) Eng 

South African Law Reforms Commission Act, 1973 (Act 19 of 1973) Eng 

Special Courts for Blacks Abolition Act, 1986 (Act 34 of 1986) Eng

Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act, 1996 (Act 74 of 1996)Eng 

State Attorney Act (Act 56 of 1957) Eng 

State Liability Act, 1957 (Act 20 of 1957) Eng

State of Emergency Act, 1997 (Act 64 of 1997) Eng 

Stock Theft Act, 1959 (Act 57 of 1959) Eng

Supreme Court Act, 1959 (Act 59 of 1959) Eng 

Supreme Court Decree, 1990 (Ciskei) Amendment Act, 2011 (Act 16 of 2001) Eng

Superior Courts Act, 2013 (Act 10 of 2013) Eng

Traditional Courts Act, 2022 (Act 09 of 2022) Eng/Xho

Transfer of Powers and Duties of the State President Act, 1986 (Act 97 of 1986) Eng

Trespass Act, 1959 (Act 6 of 1959) Eng

Trust Property Control Act, 1988 (Act 57 of 1988) Eng / Forms

Vexatious Proceedings Act, 1956 (Act 3 of 1956) Eng

Wills Act, 1953 (Act 7 of 1953) Eng / Forms

Witchcraft Suppression Act, 1957 (Act 3 of 1957) Eng

Witness Protection and Services Act, 1998 (Act 112 of 1998) Eng

Repealed Acts

Laws that are now administered by other departments