Health, Environmental & Safety Acts
Health‑Related Legislation (Acts & Amendments)
- National Health Act, 2003 (Act No. 61 of 2003) – Core governing framework for health service delivery, governance structures, patient rights, confidentiality, and health establishment administration.
- Medicines and Related Substances Act, 1965 (Act No. 101 of 1965) – Regulates medicines and related substances; administered via SAHPRA; includes amendment acts (e.g. 2008, 2015).
- Hazardous Substances Act, 1973 (Act No. 15 of 1973) – Controls use of hazardous chemicals to safeguard public health and safety (not shown explicitly, but functionally linked in health statutes).
- Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974) – Regulates registration, conduct of healthcare professions and professional boards.
- Nursing Act, 1978 (Act No. 50 of 1978) – Governs nursing qualifications, registration and conduct via the South African Nursing Council.
- National Health Insurance Act, 2023 (Act No. 20 of 2023) – Establishes NHI Fund, strategic purchasing of healthcare, and universal coverage; signed into law 15 May 2024; commencement to be proclaimed.
- Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, 2000 (Act No. 4 of 2000) – Addresses discrimination including on grounds such as HIV/AIDS status and gender; enforced alongside health settings.
- Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (Act No. 4 of 2013) – Enforces data protection and patient privacy rights, came fully into effect July 2021.
Environment, Health & Safety Legislation
Workplace Health & Safety
- Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 (Act No. 85 of 1993) – Governs workplace health, machinery safety, hazard control, and employee protections; includes numerous regulations (e.g. Facilities, Machinery); supersedes earlier Safety Acts.
Environmental Management & Health
- National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998) – Core framework for environmental governance, coordinating environmental decision‑making, and enforcement under the constitutional environmental right (s.24).
- National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act No. 10 of 2004) – Manages conservation, bioprospecting, invasive species regulation, and establishment of SANBI.
- National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 2003 (Act No. 57 of 2003) – Legal basis for declaring and administering protected areas and parks; regulations updated through various Government Notices.
- NEMA Amendment Acts – Includes Amendment Acts in 2003, 2004, and the National Environmental Management Laws Amendment Act, 2022 to refine governance, licensing, auditing, etc.
- Other environmental statutes – E.g., Climate Change Act, 2024 (gazetted in March 2025) strengthen planning and mitigation frameworks.
- Environmental Regulations (EIA, Waste, Coastal, Air Quality, etc.) – Regulations under NEMA, including:
- Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations (Listing Notices, 2014)
- Waste Management, Air Quality, Coastal Management, Framework Regulations 2010–2014
- Workplace environmental regulations under EHS context.