Ramaphosa enacts two fresh legislations in South Africa

South Africa implementing two new laws marks the start of police oversight and language policy reforms.

, and Administrator

2025 September 14 . 6:18 AM

2 min read

South African President Ramaphosa enacts two new legislations into force

Ramaphosa enacts two fresh legislations in South Africa

South Africa has seen significant legislative developments recently, aimed at addressing structural issues in governance and improving accessibility and accountability in public institutions.

The new Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) Amendment Act, which has been gazetted and is now in effect, is one such development. This Act strengthens parliamentary oversight and blocks political interference in IPID's executive leadership decisions. The Act also extends IPID's mandate to investigate all allegations of rape and deaths involving the South African Police Service (SAPS) and municipal police.

This comes amid growing controversy within the SAPS, with former KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi accusing a criminal syndicate of infiltrating law enforcement and intelligence structures. Mkhwanazi has also accused Police Minister Senzo Mchunu of trying to obstruct investigations.

The IPID Amendment Act also closes legal loopholes and brings the law in line with Constitutional Court directives demanding greater transparency and independence in police oversight.

Another critical development is the operationalization of the South African Language Practitioners' Council Act, which has been delayed for 11 years. The Act, which has now been operationalized, establishes the South African Language Practitioners' Council as a juristic body. This council will regulate and accredit language practitioners, enforce ethical and professional conduct standards, and support the government's constitutional obligations around multilingualism and linguistic inclusion.

Legal analysts and civil society organizations have welcomed this new legislation, which aims to strengthen the language services sector and address long-standing concerns about the 11-year delay in enacting the Language Practitioners' Council Act.

President Ramaphosa has responded to the controversy within the SAPS, emphasizing the need for reforms to strengthen democracy, protect vulnerable communities, and build public trust in government systems. Both the IPID and Language Practitioners' Council reforms are considered vital in this regard.

The new policing law and the South African Language Practitioners' Council are part of a broader effort to address structural issues in governance and improve accountability in public institutions. These developments are expected to have far-reaching implications for the future of democracy in South Africa.