Defence Laws Repeal and Amendment Act, 2015: Commencement and Board Eligibility Changes

Posted 30 July 2025 Written by Acts Online
Category New Legislation

Brought to you by SA Legal Academy: The Defence Laws Repeal & Amendment Act, No. 17 of 2015 has officially commenced following presidential publication in the Government Gazette, nearly ten years after its initial enactment.

The Act gives effect to recommendations made by the South African Law Reform Commission (SALRC) in an August 2011 discussion paper. The primary objective of the legislation is to repeal various statutes that are no longer of practical utility or have been superseded by more recent regulatory frameworks.

A significant substantive change introduced by the Act is the amendment of section 7(f) of the Castle Management Act, No. 207 of 1993. This amendment facilitates broader participation in the governance of the Castle of Good Hope by:

  • Repealing the age limit that previously barred individuals over the age of 70 from serving on the Castle Control Board.

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

  • For yourself: No direct individual compliance obligations; however, legal professionals should update their statutory references to reflect the repeal of obsolete defence laws.
  • For your business: Compliance and risk departments must update legislative registers to ensure that repealed defence-related statutes are no longer cited as active regulatory requirements.
  • For your clients: Clients interested in public board appointments or heritage management should note the expanded eligibility for the Castle Control Board, which now permits the appointment of experienced professionals over 70.

Originally published at https://legalacademy.co.za/news/read/defence-legislation-2015-repeal-amendment-act-in-effect

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