ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH AND SAFETY AND FOODSTUFFS LEGAL UPDATE REPORT
(SOUTH AFRICA)
6th of October 2025
Monthly SHE and Foodstuffs Legal Newsletter of what happened in September 2025
Dear Clients,
Below please find a summary of selected relevant environmental, health and safety and foodstuffs legal developments that took place during September 2025.
NATIONAL LEGISLATION
ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION
1) Biodiversity Act
- Notice of intention to set a Zero Export Quota for Trade in Lion Bones sources from Captive Breeding Operations in South Africa for the 2025 calendar year in terms of the CITES Regulations
A notice inviting public comments was published.
2) Plant Health (Phytosanitary) Act
The following were published for public comment:
- Draft Control Measures
- Draft Export Regulations
- Draft Importation of Regulated Articles Without a Permit
- Draft Import Regulations.
HEALTH AND SAFETY LEGISLATION
3) Merchant Shipping Act
- Draft Merchant Shipping (National Small Vessel Safety) Regulations
Draft Regulations were published for public comment. In the event of them entering into force they will repeal the 2007 Merchant Shipping (National Small Vessel Safety) Regulations.
4) Railway Safety Act
- Determination of the Format, Form and Content of a safety management system that is required for the different categories and types of safety permits as well as the form, content and manner of submission of a safety management system report
This new requirement was published on 19 September 2025.
LABOUR LEGISLATION
5) Labour Relations Act
Schedule 8 of the Act was repealed by GN 3470 of 4 September 2025 which published the new Code of Practice: Dismissal.
PROVINCIAL LEGISLATION
No relevant provincial legislation came out this month.
MUNICIPAL LEGISLATION
6) City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality
The following changes occurred:
- A new Filming By-law was passed which at the same time repealed the 2005 By-law relating to Filming.
- The Municipal Planning By-law was amended.
7) Theewaterskloof Local Municipality
The Integrated Waste Management By-law was promulgated which simultaneously repealed the 2015 Waste Management By-law.
8) Newcastle Local Municipality
The Spatial Planning and Land Use Management By-law was published.
9) Mossel Bay Local Municipality
Various amendments were made to the By-law relating to Community Fire Safety.
10) uMgungundlovu District Municipality
The municipality passed new by-laws:
- Air Quality Management By-law
- Municipal Environmental Health By-law (this repeals the 2017 Environmental Health By-law).
11) Rustenburg Local Municipality
The following new by-laws were promulgated:
- Air Pollution Control By-law (this repeals the 2014 Air Pollution By-law)
- Integrated Waste Management By-law (this repeals the 2016 Integrated Waste Management By-law).
12) Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality
The following new by-laws were passed:
- Disaster Management By-law
- Electricity Supply By-law
- Prevention of Public Nuisances and Keeping of Animals By-law
- Solid Waste Disposal By-law
- Stormwater Management By-law.
13) Midvaal Local Municipality
A Notice of invitation to review and comment on the Draft Electricity Supply By-law published.
14) Umgeni Local Municipality
The Waste Management By-laws were passed.
15) Steve Tshwete Local Municipality
The municipality released a new Water Services By-law. While it does not expressly state so, it presumably repeals the 2007 Water Services By-law.
16) uMgungundlovu District Municipality
The municipality made the following changes:
- A new Environmental Health By-law was published repealing the 2017 Environmental Health By-law
- The Air Quality Management By-law was promulgated.
17) Ratlou Local Municipality
A new Waste Management By-law was passed which at the same time withdrew the 2013 Waste and Refuse Removal By-law.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Kind regards
MARK DITTKE