PRESIDENT CYRIL Ramaphosa has signed into law several crucial bills that will improve the safety of navigation in South Africa’s territorial waters, professionalise the country’s diplomatic Foreign Service, and give citizens access to information about funding for political parties.

According to a statement issued by the Presidency, the Hydrographic Act provides for the establishment of the Hydrographic Office as a unit within the South African Navy, with responsibility for the safety of navigation in South Africa’s exclusive economic zone and the internal waters of the country.

The Hydrographic Office will ensure that hydrographic surveying is done in accordance with international specifications and will issue sailing directions, notices to mariners and nautical publications, in addition to other services. 

This is vital for the safe use and economic management of the marine resources along South Africa’s 3 000km coastline, which is at the centre of an important global shipping route.

Ramaphosa also signed into law the Foreign Service Act, which provides for the administration, accountability, and functioning of a professional Foreign Service of the Republic of South Africa that will be managed by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.

The legislation governs the operational requirements that are suitable and supportive of the operations of the Foreign Service in a global environment.

On the other hand, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate Amendment Act provides for parliamentary oversight in relation to the suspension, discipline or removal of the Executive Director of IPID.

The directorate is mandated to investigate serious criminal offences allegedly committed by members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and Municipal Police Services (MPS).  The new amendment gives effect to the Constitutional Court judgment in McBride v Minister of Police and Another [2016] ZACC 30.

The Constitutional Court declared as invalid certain provisions of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate Act that authorised the Minister of Police to suspend the Executive Director, to take disciplinary steps against the Executive Director following suspension, and to remove the Executive Director from office.

The Constitutional Court then ordered Parliament to address the defects in the legislation.

(Compiled by Inside Politics staff)