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RAW ACF FIELD

The Criminal Procedure Act (1977) is being reviewed by the SA Law Reform Commission. Introducing the bill is an integral part of the department's plans to reform, integrate and modernise the criminal justice system. In August 2025, Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi appointed additional Advisory Committee Members to the SA Law Reform Commission's review of the Criminal Justice System Investigation (Project 151), of which the Criminal Procedure Act (1977) review is a subset.
While the bill has yet to be tabled, there has been some momentum. On 16 February 2026, the South African Law Reform Commission published five discussion documents, all with a deadline of 30 March for public comment:

1. Discussion Paper 173: Strengthening Governance and Accounting Mechanism in the Criminal Justice System

2. Discussion Paper 172: Employment of Lay Assessors

3. Discussion Paper 171: Ensuring the Continuity of Criminal Trials: Reforming The “De Novo” Rule and Court Record Management in South Africa

4. Discussion Paper 170: Protection of the Rights of Victims of Crime in Criminal Proceedings (Reflections on Previous Investigations Pertaining to Victims of Crime)

5. Discussion Paper 169: Mental and Intellectual Disability and the Criminal Justice System