President Cyril Ramaphosa has gazetted the commencement of two long-awaited laws that aim to strengthen police oversight and professionalise language services.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate Amendment Act, 2024, now applies in full except for five specified sections that remain on hold. (LawLibrary)
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The amendments require IPID to investigate all allegations of rape and any deaths involving South African Police Service and municipal police officers, whether on duty or off duty. The change gives victims a clearer route to independent investigation and seeks to reduce political interference in sensitive cases. presidency.gov.za
Also operationalised is the South African Language Practitioners’ Council Act of 2014, which formally establishes the Language Practitioners’ Council as a juristic body.
The council will register and accredit translators and interpreters, set ethical standards and support multilingual access to information and services across government. The proclamation notes the measure responds to constitutional commitments on language inclusion. (Gov.za)
Legal groups and civil society welcomed the reforms as practical steps to protect vulnerable people and improve public service delivery. Observers pointed to the lengthy delay in bringing the language law into operation as a missed opportunity that is now being addressed. (SA People)
The presidency has moved the changes into law through official proclamations published in the Government Gazette on 29 August 2025, setting out the exact commencement dates and the sections still excluded.
These steps mark a policy shift that aims to strengthen accountability and promote greater linguistic inclusion in public life.
Stakeholders will watch how the excluded IPID sections are brought into force and how the Language Practitioners’ Council begins work on standards and accreditation.
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