Legislative Mandate

Constitutional mandates

The Department of Rural Development is an integral part of the South African Public Service established in terms of section 197 of the Constitution as read with section 7(1) and 7(2) of the Public Service Act (Act No. 103 of 1994).

Legislative mandates

Transformation legislation

  • The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act, 1996 (Act No. 108 of 1996)
  • Employment Equity Act, 1998 (Act No. 55 of 1998)
  • Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act, 2000 (Act No. 5 of 2000)
  • Labour Relations Act, 1995 (Act No. 66 of 1995)
  • Basic Conditions of Employment Act, 1997 (Act No. 75 of 1997)
  • Skills Development Act, 1998 (Act No. 97 of 1998)
  • Skills Development Levies Act, 1999 (Act No. 9 of 1999)
  • South African Qualifications Act, 1995 (Act No. 58 of 1995)
  • South African Qualifications Regulations
  • National Education Policy Act, 1996 (Act No. 27 of 1996)
  • Further Education and Training Act, 1998 (Act No. 98 of 1998)
  • General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Act, 2001 (Act No. 58 of 2001)
  • Employment of Education and Training Act, 1998 (Act No. 76 of 1998)
  • Higher Education and Training Act, 1997 (Act No. 101 of 1997)
  • Adult Basic Education Training Act, 2000 (Act No. 52 of 2000)

Land and land reform

  • Land Redistribution Policy for Agricultural Development
  • Designated Areas Development Act, 1997 (Act No. 87 of 1997)
  • Land Reform Act, 1997 (Act No. 3 of 1997)
  • Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (Act No. 43 of 1983)
  • Subdivision of Agricultural Land Act, 1970 (Act No. 70 of 1970) (pending repeal)
  • Provision of Land and Assistance Act, 1993 (Act No. 126 of 1993)
  • Nature and Environmental Conservation Ordinance 19 of 1974
  • Nature Reserve Validation Ordinance, Ordinance 3 of 1982

Administrative Legislation

  • Employment Equity Act (Act No. 55 of 1998)
  • Local Government: Municipal Property Rates Act, (Act No. 6 of 2004)
  • Public Finance Management Act  (Act No. 1 of 1999 as amended by Act No. 29 of 1999)
  • Division of Revenue Act (Annually)
  • Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act (Act No. 5 of 2000)
  • Companies Act (Act No. 61 of 1973)
  • Extension of Security of Tenure Act (Act No. 62 of 1997)
  • Public Service Act (Act No. 103 of 1994) and Regulations, 2001
  • Labour Relations Act (Act No. 66 of 1995)
  • Basic Conditions of Employment Act (Act No. 75 of 1997)
  • Skills Development Act (Act No. 97 of 1998)
  • National Archives Act (Act No. 43 of 1996)
  • Promotion of Access to Information Act (Act No. 2 of 2000)
  • Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act No. 85 of 1993)
  • Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (Act No. 130 of 1993)
  • Collective Agreements
  • National Treasury Regulations
  • Provincial Treasury Instructions
  • Administrative Justice Act (Act No. 3 of 2000)
  • Public Holidays Act (Act No. 6 of 1994)
  • The National Constitution of South Africa (Act No. 108 of 1996)
  • Adult Basic Education and Training Act (Act No. 52 of 2000)
  • Skills Development Act (Act No. 98 of 1998)
  • Skills Development Levies Act (Act No. 9 of 1999)
  • South African Qualifications Act (Act No. 58 of 1995)
  • South African Qualifications Regulations
  • National Education Policy Act (Act No. 27 of 1996)
  • Further Education and Training Act (Act No. 98 of 1998)
  • General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Act (Act No. 58 of 2001)
  • Employment of Education and Training Act (Act No. 76 of 1998)
  • Government Employees Pension Law (1996)
  • Unemployment Insurance Act (Act No. 30 of 1966)
  • Income Tax Act, 1962 – 4th standard
  • Higher Education and Training Act (Act No. 101 of 1997)
  • Further Education and Training Act (Act No. 98 of 1998)
  • SITA Act (No. 88 of 1998, as amended by Act 38 of 2002)
  • Road Traffic Act 46 of 1998

Policy Mandates

The following are some of the major policy documents guiding the activities of the Department:

  • Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act no.108 of 1996)
  • The Integrated Food Security Strategy for South Africa
  • Rural Development Framework of 1997
  • AgriBEE Charter
  • The Integrated Food Security Strategy for South Africa
  • National Comprehensive Rural Development Programme Strategy
  • Free State Comprehensive Rural Development Strategy
  • Green Paper on Rural Development
  • 2009 Manifesto of the Ruling Party
  • Free State Growth Development Strategy
  • IPAP 2
  • Basic Conditions of Employment Act
  • Employment Equity Act
  • Labour Relations Act
  • Public Service Act
  • Public Finance Management Act
  • Promotion of Access to Information Act

Transversal Legislative Framework

  • Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996
  • Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No. 1 of 1999) as amended by Public Finance Management Amendment Act, 1999 (Act No. 29 of 1999)
  • Public Service Act, 1994 as amended by Act 30 of 2007
  • Division of Revenue Act, 2005 (Act No. 4 of 2005)
  • Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 (Act No. 2 of 2000)
  • Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, 2000 (Act No. 3 of 2000)
  • Skills Development Act, 2003 (Act No. 31 of 2003)
  • Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 (Act No. 85 of 1993)
  • Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act (PPPFA), 2000 (Act No. 5 of 2000)
  • Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Act 2003, (Act No. 53 of 2003)
  • Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Disease Act, 1993 (Act No. 130 of 1993)

Department Specific Legislative Framework

National Legislation

  • Performing Animals Protection Act, 1935, (Act No. 24 of 1935)
  • Animals Protection Act, 1962 (Act No. 71 of 1962)
  • Veterinary and Para-Veterinary Professions Act,1982, (Act No. 19 of 1982)
  • Animal Diseases Act, 1984, (Act No. 35 of 1984)
  • Meat Safety Act, 2000, (Act No. 40 of 2000)
  • Animal Identification Act, 2002 (Act No. 6 of 2002)
  • Animal Health Act, 2002 (Act No. 7 of 2002)
  • Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1993. (Act No. 169 of 1993)
  • Liquor Products Act, 1989 (Act No. 60 of 1989)
  • Agricultural Product Standard Act, 1990 (Act No. 119 of 1990)
  • Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act, 1983. (Act No. 43 of 1983)
  • Fencing Act, 1963 (Act No. 31 of 1963)
  • Subdivision of Agricultural Land Act, 1970 (Act No. 70 of 1970)
  • Plant Breeders’ Rights Act, 1976 (Act No. 15 of 1976)
  • Plant Improvement Act, 1973 (Act No. 53 of 1973)
  • Perishable Products Export Control, 1983. (Act No. 9 of 1983)
  • Onderstepoort Biological Products Incorporation Act, 1999 (Act No. 19 of 1999)
  • Genetically Modified Organisms Act, 1997 (Act No. 15 of 1997)
  • Agricultural Produce Agents Act, 1992, (Act No.12 of 1992)
  • Marketing of Agricultural Products Act, 1996, (Act No. 47 of 1996)
  • Agricultural Research Act, 1990, (Act No. 86 of 1990)
  • Agricultural Pests Act, 1983 , (Act No. 36 of 1983)
  • Animal Improvement Act, 1988 (Act No. 62 of 1988)
  • Fertilizer, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act, 1947 (Act No. 36 of 1947)
  • Agricultural Laws Extension Act, 1996 (Act No. 87 of 1996)
  • Agricultural Laws Nationalisation Act, 1998 (Act No. 72 of 1998)
  • Marine Living Resources Act, 1998 (Act No. 18 of 1998)
  • National Veld and Forest Fire Act, 1998 (Act No. 101 of 1998)