Related documents
- Is commenced by Regulation of Gatherings Act, 1993: Commencement
- Is amended by Dangerous Weapons Act, 2013
- Is amended by Safety Matters Rationalisation Act, 1996
South Africa
Regulation of Gatherings Act, 1993
Act 205 of 1993
- Published in Government Gazette 15446 on 28 January 1994
- Assented to on 14 January 1994
- Commenced on 15 November 1996 by Regulation of Gatherings Act, 1993: Commencement
- [This is the version of this document from 2 January 2014.]
- [Amended by Safety Matters Rationalisation Act, 1996 (Act 90 of 1996) on 15 November 1996]
- [Amended by Dangerous Weapons Act, 2013 (Act 15 of 2013) on 2 January 2014]
1. Definitions
In this Act, unless the context otherwise indicates—"authorized member" means a member of the Police authorized in terms of section 2(2) to represent the Police as contemplated in the said section;"branch", in relation to an organization, includes—(a)any section or committee of the organization; and(b)any local, regional or subsidiary body forming part of the organization;[definition of "Commissioner" deleted by section 1 of Act 90 of 1996]"convener" means—(a)any person who, of his own accord, convenes a gathering; and(b)in relation to any organization or branch of any organization, any person appointed by such organization or branch in terms of section 2(1);"demonstration" includes any demonstration by one or more persons, but not more than 15 persons, for or against any person, cause, action or failure to take action;"gathering" means any assembly, concourse or procession of more than 15 persons in or on any public road as defined in the Road Traffic Act, 1989 (Act No. 29 of 1989), or any other public place or premises wholly or partly open to the air—(a)at which the principles, policy, actions or failure to act of any government, political party or political organization, whether or not that party or organization is registered in terms of any applicable law, are discussed, attacked, criticized, promoted or propagated; or(b)held to form pressure groups, to hand over petitions to any person, or to mobilize or demonstrate support for or opposition to the views, principles, policy, actions or omissions of any person or body of persons or institution, including any government, administration or governmental institution;"local authority" means any local authority body established in terms of any law which applies in an area which forms part of the national territory referred to in section 1 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1993 (Act No. 200 of 1993), and in areas where only a regional authority body, established in terms of a law, has jurisdiction, that regional authority body;[definition of "local authority" substituted by section 1 of Act 90 of 1996]"magistrate" means a magistrate appointed in terms of the Magistrates Act, 1993 (Act No. 90 of 1993);[definition of "magistrate" substituted by section 1 of Act 90 of 1996]"marshal" means any person appointed as such in terms of section 8(1);"Minister" means the Minister for Safety and Security;[definition of "Minister" substituted by section 1 of Act 90 of 1996]"National Commissioner" means the National Commissioner referred to in section 6(1) of the South African Police Service Act, 1995 (Act No. 68 of 1995), and includes a Provincial Commissioner referred to in section 6(2) of the said Act;[definition of "National Commissioner" inserted by section 1 of Act 90 of 1996]"organization" means any association, group or body of persons, whether or not such association, group or body has been incorporated, established or registered in accordance with any law;[definition of "peace committee" deleted by section 1 of Act 90 of 1996]"Police" means the South African Police Service established by section 5(1) of the South African Police Service Act, 1995, and includes any body of persons established or enrolled under any law and exercising or performing the powers, duties and functions of a police service, but does not include any body of traffic officers.[definition of "Police" substituted by section 1 of Act 90 of 1996]"responsible officer" means a person appointed in terms of section 20(4)(a) as responsible officer or deputy responsible officer, and includes any person deemed in terms of section 2(4) to be a responsible officer;"riot damage" means any loss suffered as a result of any injury to or the death of any person, or any damage to or destruction of any property, caused directly or indirectly by, and immediately before, during or after, the holding of a gathering.Chapter 1
2. Appointment of conveners, authorized members and responsible officers
3. Notice of gatherings
4. Consultations, negotiations, amendment of notices, and conditions
5. Prevention and prohibition of gathering
6. Reviews and appeals
Chapter 2
7. Demonstrations and gatherings in vicinity of courts, buildings of Parliament and Union Buildings
Chapter 3
8. Conduct of gatherings and demonstrations
The following provisions shall apply to the conduct of gatherings and, where so indicated, to the conduct of demonstrations:9. Powers of Police
10. Regulations
The Minister may, subject to the provisions of section 9(2), make regulations in regard to—Chapter 4
11. Liability for damage arising from gatherings and demonstrations
12. Offences and penalties
13. Interpretation
14. Conflict and repeal of laws
15. ***
[section 15 repealed by section 1 of Act 90 of 1996]16. Short title and commencement
This Act shall be called the Regulation of Gatherings Act, 1993, and shall come into operation on a date fixed by the President by proclamation in the Gazette.[section 16 substituted by section 1 of Act 90 of 1996]History of this document
02 January 2014 this version
Amended by
Dangerous Weapons Act, 2013
15 November 1996
28 January 1994
14 January 1994
Assented to
Cited documents 6
Legislation 6
Documents citing this one 73
Gazette 57
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Judgment 5
- Dyibishe v Minister of Police (3050/2019) [2023] ZAECGHC 94 (5 October 2023)
- Garvis and Others v South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (2580/2007) [2010] ZAWCHC 175 (9 September 2010)
- Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs v De Beer and Another (538 of 2020) [2021] ZASCA 95 (1 July 2021)
- Right to Know Campaign and Others v City Manager of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality and Another (49197/19) [2022] ZAGPJHC 942 (10 June 2022)
- Right to Know Campaign and Others v City Manager of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality and Another (49197/2019) [2022] ZAGPJHC 30 (10 June 2022)