Racial Acts of Parliament
Total: 324 | Operative: 145
Racial Acts of Parliament
Total: 324 | Operative: 145
Five race laws added (explained in turn below), of which three are operative and two are uncommenced. The number of operative race laws therefore revised from 142 to 145, and total race laws revised from 319 to 324. Minor methodological change. Racial Acts of Parliament that have been adopted onto the Statute Book (that is,…
Three race law status updates. The National Small Enterprises Act (102 of 1996), the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act (57 of 2003), and the National Environmental Management: Waste Act (59 of 2008) were previously indicated as originally Racial. However, after receiving information from Kaitlyn Rawson, it was found that in fact these acts were…
Two race laws added. After receiving and verifying information from Mr Garth Schoeman, the Defence Act (44 of 1957) was included in the Index. Thank you to Mr Schoeman for his valuable assistance. Additionally, upon independent inquiry, the Expropriation Act (63 of 1975) was found to be originally racial but deracialised in 1991. Total race…
One race law added. The Deeds Registries Amendment Act (20 of 2024) was signed into law in December 2024, which racialised the hitherto non-racial Deeds Registries Act (47 of 1937). Total race laws therefore revised from 316 to 317, and pre-democratic era race laws revised from 199 to 200. The operative number of race laws…
Two race laws added. After receiving and verifying information from Mr Jonathan Wright, the Arms and Ammunition Act (28 of 1937) and the Arms and Ammunition Act (75 of 1969) were included in the Index. Total race laws therefore revised from 314 to 316, and pre-democratic era race laws revised from 197 to 199. The…
One race law added and one race law removed. The Public Procurement Act (28 of 2024) was adopted, and in the process the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act (5 of 2000) was repealed. Total race laws therefore revised from 313 to 314, and democratic era race laws revised from 116 to 117, however the operative…
Counting error corrected. Number of racial Acts of Parliament operative as of 25 November 2022 is 141 rather than 132. Clarification added about the repeal of the Licences Act (44 of 1962). Click here to read the updated Index of Race Law.
In part utilising the Index of Race Law, the civil rights group AfriForum has published a new report authored by attorney Johan van der Merwe, ‘Racialised legislation in South Africa’, which provides an overview of the race law landscape in South Africa. Read the report here.
Martin van Staden, Deputy Head of Policy Research at the Institute of Race Relations and editor of Race Law, appeared on Chai FM to discuss the idea behind, and initial findings, of the Index of Race Law. Listen to the interview here:
Reconciliation Month: Institute of Race Relations launches ‘Index of Race Law’
