Public Service Commission Act Enacted into Law

Posted 16 September 2026 Written by Acts Online
Category Public Sector Governance

Brought to you by SAnews: The President has signed the Public Service Commission Act into law, formally repealing the Public Service Commission Act, No. 65 of 1997 and expanding the oversight jurisdiction of the Commission.

Established in terms of section 196(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, the Public Service Commission (PSC) is mandated to investigate public administration practices, monitor professional ethics, and evaluate service delivery. The new statutory framework materially alters the Commission’s scope of operation and enforcement mechanisms.

Key Statutory Changes and Powers

  • Scope expansion: Extends the PSC’s investigative and monitoring mandate beyond national and provincial departments to include local government (municipalities) and public entities.
  • Statutory reporting directives: Empowers the Commission to direct an executive authority or any subject of a PSC decision to report formally on implementation progress.
  • Administrative structure: Regulates the appointment procedure for Commissioners by the President and formally establishes the Secretariat of the Commission.
  • Penal sanctions: Section-level offences for obstructing the PSC in the execution of its statutory powers now carry a fine of up to R50 000, imprisonment for a period up to 12 months, or both.

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

  • For yourself: Professionals and public officers interacting with PSC inquiries face statutory disclosure obligations; non-compliance or obstruction now attracts direct criminal liability with fines up to R50 000 or 12 months’ imprisonment.
  • For your business: Advisory and legal practices providing services to municipal entities or state-owned enterprises must update governance matrices to account for PSC reporting and compliance directives.
  • For your clients: Municipalities, public entities, and their executive authorities are now subject to binding PSC monitoring reviews and must implement formal internal tracking procedures to report on Commission directives.

Originally published at https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/public-service-commission-bill-enacted-law

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