Africa-Press – South-Africa. Two new laws have officially gone live in South Africa, with significant changes for policing and language laws in the country.
The President has officially gazetted proclamations announcing the commencement of the 2024 Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) Amendment Act, except for five sections.
The 2024 IPD Amendment Act affects most aspects of a 2016 Constitutional Court ruling, known as the McBride judgment.
The ruling aimed to entrench the IPID’s ‘institutional and operational independence’, enabling it to function ‘without any favour or bias.’
The 2019 Amendment Act, which has been in force since November 2024, gave effect to certain Constitutional Court requirements over parliamentary oversight regarding ministerial decisions affecting the IPID’s executive director.
The 2024 amendment act also mandates the IPID to investigate allegations of rape by members of the SAPS or municipal police service.
They can also investigate any deaths caused by such members, whether on or off duty.
The new laws come amidst a challenging period for the SAPS after serious corruption allegations from Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi in July.
Mkhwanazi said that a criminal syndicate infiltrated law enforcement and intelligence structures in South Africa.
He alleged that the Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, interfered with a police investigation and colluded to disband the Police Killings Task Team in KZN.
President Cyril Ramaphosa responded by placing Mchunu on special leave and ordering a special inquiry into police corruption, led by retired Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga.
However, due to delays in procuring vital infrastructure, the commission was delayed from its planned start today, 1 September 2025.
Ramaphosa has also appointed Professor Firoz Cachalia as Acting Police Minister.
Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) Amendment ActDownload
New language laws
On top of the IPID Amendments, the Presidency announced that the 2014 South African Language Practitioners’ Council Act is also now live.
According to the Parliamentary Monitoring Group, the South African Language Practitioners’ Council is mandated to, among other things:
Regulate language practice
Control the accreditation and registration of language practitioners
Develop rules for governing the conduct of language practitioners, and
Develop procedures for ensuring monitoring and compliance.
The new law formally established the Council as a juristic person, in keeping with the 2013 National Language Policy Framework requirements and the constitutional obligations concerning multilingualism.
SA Legal Academy Watch noted that the new Bill should facilitate equal access to information, knowledge, education, and government services and programmes.
It remains unclear why the government officials concerned have taken nearly 11 years to operationalise the Act.
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