Public Service Commission Act Gazetted Ahead of Phased Commencement

Posted 15 September 2026 Written by Acts Online
Category Public Sector & Administrative

Brought to you by SA Legal Academy: The Public Service Commission Bill [‘B’ version] has been assented to and published as an Act of Parliament, establishing a reformed legislative framework that will take effect on a date to be determined by presidential proclamation.

The new statute provides for the complete repeal of the Public Service Commission Act, No. 65 of 1997, alongside designated sections of related legislation. Initially tabled in October 2023 and passed by Parliament in May 2026, the Act is structured to enhance the institutional and operational independence of the Public Service Commission (PSC).

A core feature of the enactment is its phased commencement mechanism, which enables distinct sections governing public entities and local municipalities to be operationalised incrementally.

Key Regulatory Dimensions

  • Full repeal: The Public Service Commission Act, No. 65 of 1997 is repealed in its entirety upon commencement.
  • Broadened scope: Oversight and standard-setting functions are structured to extend sequentially across national departments, provincial administrations, public entities, and municipalities.
  • Strengthened independence: The statute establishes updated institutional, administrative, and reporting safeguards for the Commission.

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

  • For yourself: Administrative and public law practitioners must monitor the Government Gazette for the proclamation notice specifying the effective commencement date.
  • For your business: Firms providing legal, audit, human capital, or governance consulting services to organs of state must update compliance review templates to align with the PSC’s broadened statutory reach.
  • For your clients: Municipalities and public entities must audit their internal human resource, governance, and public service compliance procedures ahead of the phased operationalisation of entity-level oversight.

Originally published at https://legalacademy.co.za/news/read/public-service-commission-new-act-joins-statute-books-not-yet-in-force

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