LEGISLATION: THREE MORE BILLS ENACTED

LEGISLATION: THREE MORE BILLS ENACTED

• 02 April 2026
• New Legislation
• SA Legal Academy

Please note: On 6 April 2026, the Department of Public Service & Administration issued a media statement quoting Minister Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi as having welcomed the enactment of the Public Administration Management Amendment Bill and Public Service Amendment Bill – describing the move as ‘a significant step forward in building a capable, ethical and professional public service’. The statement made no mention of the need for regulations to operationalise the two new statutes, which are not yet in force.

Three more pieces of legislation have joined the statute books:

• the Public Administration Management Amendment Act (not yet commenced)
• the Public Service Amendment Act (not yet commenced), and
• the Marine Oil Pollution (Preparedness, Response and Cooperation) Act (not yet commenced).

Once in force, the Public Administration Management Amendment Act will seeks to address challenges experienced in implementing the principal statute – largely stemming from procedural complications related to regulating associated fiscal arrangements.

Once operationalised, the among other things the Public Service Amendment Act will:

• enable the devolution of administrative powers to heads of department
• introduce an alternative mechanism for recovering overpaid remuneration and benefits
• limit the political rights of heads of department and employees reporting directly to them, and
• clarify the role of the Public Service Commission in respect of grievances.

Once in force, the Marine Oil Pollution (Preparedness, Response & Co-operation) Act will facilitate collaboration with other affected parties in preparing for oil spills by:

• enabling joint:
  • contingency plan development
  • research and development initiatives, and
  • training and exercise programmes
• ensuring that the necessary equipment stocks are in place and maintained, and by
• introducing appropriate spill notification procedures for shipping.

Links to the new statutes can be found at the beginning of this report.

Published by SA Legal Academy Policy Watch

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