South African Laws Repository

The Labour Relations Act (LRA) is the primary law governing employment relations in South Africa. It establishes the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), the Labour Court, and the Labour Appeal Court.

Key provisions:
- Freedom of association and protection of trade union rights
- Collective bargaining and workplace forums
- Regulation of strikes and lock-outs
- Unfair dismissal and unfair labour practice protections
- Automatically unfair dismissals (discrimination, whistleblowing, etc.)
- Severance pay for operational requirement dismissals
- Transfer of employment contracts (section 197)
- Powers and processes of the CCMA
- Labour Court jurisdiction and appeals

NEMA is the cornerstone of South African environmental law.

Key provisions:
- National environmental management principles
- Sustainable development framework
- Environmental impact assessments (EIAs)
- Environmental authorisation requirements
- Duty of care and remediation of environmental damage
- Public participation in environmental decisions
- Environmental Management Plans (EMPs)
- Environmental Management Inspectors (Green Scorpions)
- Offences and penalties
- Cooperative governance
- Criminal liability for directors of offending companies

The AQA governs air quality management.

Key provisions:
- National ambient air quality standards
- Listed activities requiring atmospheric emission licences
- Emission limits and monitoring
- Air quality management plans
- Priority areas (Vaal Triangle, Highveld)
- Controlled emitters and fuels
- Dust, noise, and odour control regulations
- Offences for unlawful emissions
- Public participation in licensing
- Compliance monitoring and enforcement

NEMBA protects South Africa's biodiversity.

Key provisions:
- National biodiversity framework
- Protection of threatened and protected species (TOPS)
- Species listing and permitting
- Alien and invasive species management
- Bioprospecting regulation
- Biodiversity offsets
- Protected areas expansion strategy
- CITES implementation (endangered species trade)
- Offences related to illegal wildlife trade
- Enforcement by Green Scorpions

NEMWA governs waste management.

Key provisions:
- National waste management strategy
- Waste hierarchy: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover, Disposal
- Extended producer responsibility (EPR)
- Licensing of waste management facilities
- Hazardous waste management
- Prohibition of unauthorised dumping
- Duty of care for waste handlers
- Contaminated land remediation
- Import and export of waste regulations
- Offences and penalties