Draft South African Space Regulatory Bill Gazetted for Public Comment

Posted 30 October 2026 Written by Acts Online
Category Trade

Brought to you by SA Legal Academy: The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the DTIC) has gazetted and called for public comment on the draft South African Space Regulatory Bill.

Once enacted, operationalised, and passed by Parliament, the proposed statute will repeal and replace the Space Affairs Act, No. 84 of 1993. The deadline for submitting written comments on the draft Bill is 29 December 2026.

The draft legislation establishes an updated statutory and regulatory framework designed to govern domestic participation in orbital and space operations, reflecting South Africa’s current operational footprint comprising operational satellites and 16 ground stations. The draft Bill seeks to provide for:

  • The formal statutory definition, scope, and licensing of domestic ‘space activity’;
  • Authorisation, safety, and oversight requirements for launching, operating, and decommissioning orbital and space objects;
  • Regulatory supervision of ground stations and linked tracking and telemetry infrastructure;
  • Compliance mechanisms aligned with international treaties and multi-lateral conventions governing outer space exploration and liability.

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

  • For yourself: Compliance and legal practitioners specialising in telecommunications and aerospace law should study the draft Bill to advise on upcoming licensing regimes replacing the 1993 statutory framework.
  • For your business: Professional advisory firms servicing tech, telecoms, or aerospace sectors should track the legislative pipeline to anticipate new client compliance mandates and registration filings.
  • For your clients: Satellite operators, ground station licence holders, and research institutions conducting space activities must review the operational requirements and submit written representations by 29 December 2026.

Originally published at https://legalacademy.co.za/news/read/sa-space-industry-draft-regulatory-bill-out-for-comment

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