South Africa
Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, 2000
Act 4 of 2000
- Published in Government Gazette 20876 on 9 February 2000
- Assented to on 2 February 2000
- There are multiple commencements
- [This is the version of this document as it was from 17 February 2009 to 28 February 2015.]
Provisions | Status |
---|---|
Chapter 1, section 1–3, section 4(2), section 5; Chapter 2, section 6; Chapter 5, section 29(1), 29(3), 29(4), 29(5); Chapter 7, section 32, section 33, section 34(1), section 35 | commenced on 1 September 2000 by Proclamation R54 of 2000. |
Chapter 4, section 16(1)(c), 16(1)(d), 16(2)(a), 16(2)(b), 16(3), 16(4), 16(5), section 17(2), 17(3); Chapter 6, section 31(2)(a)(i), 31(2)(a)(ii), 31(6), 31(7) | commenced on 15 January 2003. |
Chapter 1, section 4(1); Chapter 2, section 7, section 8–12; Chapter 3 (section 13–15); Chapter 4, section 16(1)(a), 16(1)(b), 16(2), section 17(1), section 18, section 19–23; Chapter 6, section 30, section 31(1), 31(2)(a), 31(2)(b), 31(3), 31(4), 31(5); Chapter 7, section 34(2) | commenced on 16 June 2003 by Proclamation R49 of 2003. |
Chapter 4, section 17(4) | commenced on 31 March 2005. |
Chapter 5, section 24–28, section 29(2); Chapter 7, section 33(6)(a), 33(6)(b) | not yet commenced. |
- [Amended by Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Amendment Act, 2002 (Act 52 of 2002) on 15 January 2003]
- [Amended by Judicial Matters Second Amendment Act, 2003 (Act 55 of 2003) on 31 March 2005]
- [Amended by Judicial Matters Amendment Act, 2005 (Act 22 of 2005) on 11 January 2006]
- [Amended by Judicial Matters Amendment Act, 2008 (Act 66 of 2008) on 17 February 2009]
Chapter 1
Definitions, objects, interpretation, guiding principles and application of Act
1. Definitions
2. Objects of Act
The objects of this Act are—3. Interpretation of Act
4. Guiding principles
5. Application of Act
Chapter 2
Prevention, prohibition and elimination of unfair discrimination, hate speech and harassment
6. Prevention and general prohibition of unfair discrimination
Neither the State nor any person may unfairly discriminate against any person7. Prohibition of unfair discrimination on ground of race
Subject to section 6, no person may unfairly discriminate against any person on the ground of race, including—8. Prohibition of unfair discrimination on ground of gender
Subject to section 6, no person may unfairly discriminate against any person on the ground of gender, including—9. Prohibition of unfair discrimination on ground of disability
Subject to section 6, no person may unfairly discriminate against any person on the ground of disability, including—10. Prohibition of hate speech
11. Prohibition of harassment
No person may subject any person to harassment.12. Prohibition of dissemination and publication of information that unfairly discriminates
No person may—Chapter 3
Burden of proof and determination of fairness or unfairness
13. Burden of proof
14. Determination of fairness or unfairness
15. Hate speech and harassment not subject to determination of fairness
In cases of hate speech and harassment section 14 does not apply.Chapter 4
Equality courts
16. Equality courts and presiding officers
17. Clerks of equality courts
18. Witnesses
The attendance of witnesses and the payment of witness fees in cases arising from the application of this Act must be determined by the Minister in the prescribed manner.19. Rules and court proceedings
20. Institution of proceedings in terms of or under Act
21. Powers and functions of equality court
22. Assessors
23. Appeals and reviews
Chapter 5
Promotion of equality
24. General responsibility to promote equality
25. Duty of State to promote equality
26. Responsibility of persons operating in public domain to promote equality
It is the responsibility of any person directly or indirectly contracting with the State or exercising public power to promote equality by—27. Social commitment by all persons to promote equality
28. Special measures to promote equality with regard to race, gender and disability
29. Illustrative list of unfair practices in certain sectors
Chapter 6
General provisions and implementation of Act
30. Regulations
31. Implementation of Act
Chapter 7
Review of Act, short title and commencement
32. Establishment of Equality Review Committee
The Minister must, immediately, upon promulgation of this Act, by notice in the Gazette, establish an Equality Review Committee and appoint members, consisting of—33. Powers, functions and term of office of Equality Review Committee
34. Directive principle on HIV/AIDS, nationality, socio-economic status and family responsibility and status
35. Short title and commencement
History of this document
03 April 2024 amendment not yet applied
Amended by
Judicial Matters Amendment Act, 2023
02 August 2017 amendment not yet applied
Amended by
Judicial Matters Amendment Act, 2017
08 January 2016 amendment not yet applied
Amended by
Judicial Matters Amendment Act, 2015
01 March 2015 amendment not yet applied
Amended by
Legal Aid South Africa Act, 2014
17 February 2009 this version
Amended by
Judicial Matters Amendment Act, 2008
11 January 2006
31 March 2005
16 June 2003
15 January 2003
01 September 2000
09 February 2000
02 February 2000
Assented to
Cited documents 4
Legislation 4
Documents citing this one 198
Case summary 2
- Case Summary: Hoffmann v South African Airways (CCT 17/00) [2000] ZACC 17 (28 September 2000)
- Case Summary: Minister of Health and Others v Treatment Action Campaign and Others (No 1) (CCT 9/02) [2002] ZACC 16 (5 July 2002)
Gazette 115
- Eastern Cape Provincial Gazette dated 2017-04-24 number 3830
- Gauteng Provincial Gazette dated 2001-08-02 number 151
- Gauteng Provincial Gazette dated 2003-04-24 number 148
- Gauteng Provincial Gazette dated 2003-05-12 number 165
- Gauteng Provincial Gazette dated 2006-01-03 number 3
- Gauteng Provincial Gazette dated 2011-09-19 number 216
- Gauteng Provincial Gazette dated 2011-10-20 number 246
- Gauteng Provincial Gazette dated 2011-12-28 number 301
- KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Gazette dated 2005-07-28 number 6419
- KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Gazette dated 2006-05-04 number 6480
- KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Gazette dated 2013-03-01 number 907
- KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Gazette dated 2013-03-25 number 920
- KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Gazette dated 2014-02-26 number 1102
- KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Gazette dated 2015-07-17 number 1410
- KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Gazette dated 2017-07-27 number 1860
- KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Gazette dated 2017-11-09 number 1897
- KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Gazette dated 2019-11-14 number 2140
- Limpopo Provincial Gazette dated 2000-09-05 number 601
- Limpopo Provincial Gazette dated 2000-12-01 number 649
- Limpopo Provincial Gazette dated 2001-04-12 number 685
- Limpopo Provincial Gazette dated 2020-02-28 number 3068
- Mpumalanga Provincial Gazette dated 2011-09-09 number 1965
- Mpumalanga Provincial Gazette dated 2016-08-12 number 2721
- Mpumalanga Provincial Gazette dated 2016-11-16 number 2751
- Mpumalanga Provincial Gazette dated 2016-12-02 number 2757
- North-West Provincial Gazette dated 2014-12-09 number 7380
- North-West Provincial Gazette dated 2015-08-03 number 7511
- South Africa Government Gazette Regulation Gazette dated 2000-09-01 number 21517
- South Africa Government Gazette Regulation Gazette dated 2001-11-30 number 22863
- South Africa Government Gazette Regulation Gazette dated 2003-06-26 number 25143
- South Africa Government Gazette Regulation Gazette dated 2008-09-19 number 31434
- South Africa Government Gazette Regulation Gazette dated 2009-08-28 number 32516
- South Africa Government Gazette Regulation Gazette dated 2015-01-22 number 38411
- South Africa Government Gazette Regulation Gazette dated 2017-07-26 number 41005
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2000-03-10 number 20977
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2000-08-07 number 21453
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2000-08-23 number 21493
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2000-12-13 number 21886
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2001-11-23 number 22856
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2001-12-10 number 22917
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2002-06-10 number 23506
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2002-08-14 number 23740
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2002-11-22 number 24080
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2002-12-20 number 24193
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2003-01-10 number 24230
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2003-01-15 number 24249
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2003-02-10 number 24344 part 1
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2003-02-18 number 24448
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2003-02-19 number 24496
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2003-02-20 number 24521
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2003-02-26 number 24651
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2003-02-28 number 24658
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2003-02-28 number 24660
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2003-02-28 number 24663
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2003-03-03 number 24665
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2003-03-03 number 24667
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2003-03-04 number 24672
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2003-06-13 number 25065
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2003-10-03 number 25492
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2003-10-17 number 25562
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2004-02-04 number 25973
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2004-03-26 number 26178
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2004-03-31 number 26206
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2004-04-30 number 26316
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2004-07-20 number 26590
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2004-08-17 number 26678
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2005-08-04 number 27866
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2005-10-31 number 28186
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2005-11-18 number 28216
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2006-01-11 number 28391
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2008-08-29 number 31371
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2008-10-08 number 31496
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2009-02-17 number 31908
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2010-03-17 number 33032
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2010-03-26 number 33051
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2010-11-29 number 33807
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2010-12-10 number 33841
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2010-12-17 number 33873
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2011-05-30 number 34319
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2011-06-06 number 34346
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2011-08-31 number 34572
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2011-09-08 number 34593
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2012-01-27 number 34963
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2012-06-15 number 35435
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2012-08-29 number 35637
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2013-10-04 number 36895
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2013-10-11 number 2795 part 1
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2013-11-06 number 37005
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2014-04-07 number 37538
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2014-12-09 number 38315
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2015-02-16 number 38471
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2015-08-28 number 39131
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2016-01-08 number 39587
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2016-02-12 number 39679
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2016-03-18 number 39827
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2016-09-23 number 40300
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2017-02-17 number 40621 part 1
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2017-04-28 number 40817
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2017-05-12 number 40840 part 1
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2017-08-02 number 41016
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2017-08-02 number 41018
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2018-06-21 number 41725
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2018-07-13 number 41766
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2019-09-19 number 42717
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2020-12-11 number 43981 part 1
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2020-12-31 number 44048 part 1
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2021-02-05 number 44173 part 1
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2021-03-26 number 44333 part 1
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2021-03-26 number 44402
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2021-10-15 number 45328 part 1
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2022-09-09 number 46879
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2022-10-28 number 47373 part 1
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2023-11-10 number 49658
- South Africa Government Gazette dated 2023-11-17 number 49720 part 1
- Western Cape Provincial Gazette dated 2020-03-23 number 8223
Judgment 70
- Africa Community Media (Pty) Ltd and Others v Standard Bank of SA Ltd; Africa Community Media (Pty) Ltd and Others v Standard Bank of SA Ltd N.O. and Another (9318/2022; EC08/2023) [2023] ZAWCHC 146 (14 September 2023)
- Afriforum NPC v Nelson Mandela Foundation Trust and Others (371/2020) [2023] ZASCA 58 (21 April 2023)
- Afriforum v South African Human Rights Commission N.N.O. and Others; De Klerk N.N.O. and Others v South African Rights Commission N.N.O. and Others (14370/2019; 31328/2019) [2023] ZAGPJHC 827 (14 July 2023)
- BoE Trust Ltd NO and Another (in their capacities as co-trustees of the Jean Pierre De Villiers Trust 5208/2006) (846/2011) [2012] ZASCA 147 (28 September 2012)
- Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration and Others v Law Society of the Northern Provinces (5/2013) [2013] ZASCA 118 (20 September 2013)
- Coral Lagoon Investments 194 (Pty) Ltd and Another v Capitec Bank Holdings Limited (887/2021) [2022] ZASCA 144 (24 October 2022)
- Curators Ad Litem to Certain Potential Beneficiaries of Emma Smith Educational Fund v The University of KwaZulu-Natal and Others (510/2009) [2010] ZASCA 136 (1 October 2010)
- De La Rey v Ph De La Rey Family Trust N.N.O. and Others (084/2021) [2023] ZASCA 48 (11 April 2023)
- De Lange v Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa for the time being and Another [2015] ZACC 35 (24 November 2015)
- Department of Correctional Services and Another v Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) and Others (CA 6/2010) [2011] ZALAC 18 (27 September 2011)
- Dikoko v Mokhatla [2006] ZACC 10 (3 August 2006)
- Dimension Data Middle East and Africa (Pty) Ltd and Others v Ngcaba (2016/22545) [2022] ZAGPJHC 1213 (6 December 2022)
- Foy v Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and Others (J1952/2017) [2023] ZALCJHB 1 (8 September 2023)
- Gallocher v Social Housing Regulatory Authority and Another (1485/2019) [2019] ZALCJHB 162 (3 July 2019)
- Gallocher v Social Housing Regulatory Authority and Another (J 1485/2019) [2019] ZALCJHB 388 (3 July 2019)
- Garb v Absa Bank Limited (NCT/23189/2021/141(1)(b)) [2022] ZANCT 19 (6 October 2022)
- Gaum and Others v Van Rensburg NO and Others (40819/17) [2019] ZAGPPHC 469 (8 March 2019)
- Gcaba v Minister for Safety and Security and Others [2009] ZACC 26 (7 October 2009)
- Gold Circle (Pty) Ltd v Maharaj (1313/17) [2019] ZASCA 93 (3 June 2019)
- Hattingh and Others v Juta (440/2011) [2012] ZASCA 84 (30 May 2012)
- John v Afrox Oxygen Ltd (JS 532/11) [2015] ZAGPJHC 345 (4 August 2015)
- Kham and Others v Electoral Commission and Another [2015] ZACC 37 (30 November 2015)
- King NO and Others v De Jager and Others [2021] ZACC 4 (19 February 2021)
- Lourens v Speaker of the National Assembly of Parliament and Others (20827/2014) [2016] ZASCA 11 (10 March 2016)
- MEC for Education: Kwazulu-Natal and Others v Pillay [2007] ZACC 21 (5 October 2007)
- Maharaj v Gold Circle (Pty) Ltd (AR 616/2016) [2017] ZAKZPHC 47 (23 September 2017)
- Manong &Associates (Pty) Ltd v Department of Roads &Transport, Eastern Cape Province and Another (331/2008) [2009] ZASCA 59 (29 May 2009)
- Manong &Associates (Pty) Ltd v Minister of Public Works and Another (518/2008) [2009] ZASCA 110 (23 September 2009)
- Manong and Associates (Pty) Ltd v City of Cape Town and Another (457/2009) [2010] ZASCA 169 (1 December 2010)
- Manong and Associates (Pty) Ltd v Eastern Cape Department of Roads and Transport &Others (369/2008) [2009] ZASCA 50 (25 May 2009)
- Masuku and Another v South African Human Rights Commission obo South African Jewish Board of Deputies (1062 of 2017) [2018] ZASCA 180 (4 December 2018)
- Mazibuko and Others v City of Johannesburg and Others [2009] ZACC 28 (8 October 2009)
- Mercantile Bank, A Division of Capitec Bank Limited and Another v Surve and Others (206/CAC/Oct22; 208/CAC/Oct22; 209/CAC/Oct22; 210/CAC/Oct22) [2023] ZACAC 1 (17 July 2023)
- Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism v George and Others [2006] ZASCA 57 (18 May 2006)
- Minister of Finance and Other v Van Heerden [2004] ZACC 3 (29 July 2004)
- Minister of Home Affairs and Another v Fourie and Another; Lesbian and Gay Equality Project and Eighteen Others v Minister of Home Affairs [2005] ZACC 20 (1 December 2005)
- Minister of Justice and Correctional Services and Others v Pretorius and Others (440/2022) [2023] ZASCA 155 (17 November 2023)
- Motingoe v Head of the Department of the Northern Cape Department of Roads and Public Works and Others (C18/2014) [2014] ZALCCT 27 (4 March 2014)
- Motingoe v Head of the Department of the Northern Cape Department of Roads and Public Works and Others (C18/2014) [2014] ZALCCT 29 (4 March 2014)
- National Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences v Lephoto and Another (JA 36/2018) [2019] ZALAC 98 (12 September 2019)
- Nedbank Limited and Another v Survé and Others (160/23) [2023] ZASCA 178 (18 December 2023)
- Ngobeni v Minister of Communications and Another (J 08/14) [2014] ZALCJHB 136 (3 April 2014)
- P V v C V and Others (11181/2020) [2022] ZAGPJHC 18 (20 April 2022)
- Palace Group Investments (Pty) Limited and Others v Michael (JA52/12) [2013] ZALAC 6 (28 May 2013)
- Parliament of the Republic of South Africa v Charlton (CA2/08) [2010] ZALAC 13 (21 July 2010)
- Pinto v Dimension Data and Others (EQ 3/2021) [2022] ZAGPJHC 1127 (15 June 2022)
- Pistorius v S (253/2013) [2014] ZASCA 47 (1 April 2014)
- Potgieter v Ferrochrome and Others (JA 71/12) [2014] ZALAC 36 (12 June 2014)
- Pretorius and Others v Minister of Justice and Correctional Services and Others (83909/16) [2018] ZAGPPHC 424 (14 May 2018)
- Qwelane v SAHRC and Others (686/2018) [2019] ZASCA 167 (29 November 2019)
- Qwelane v South African Human Rights Commission and Another [2021] ZACC 22 (30 July 2021)
- Rampul v Trustees of Mangrove Beach Centre : Body Corporate and Others (9823/2022P) [2022] ZAKZPHC 73 (15 December 2022)
- S v Gila (A93/2022) [2023] ZAWCHC 5 (19 January 2023)
- S v Jezile and Others (A 127/2014) [2015] ZAWCHC 202 (23 March 2015)
- SA Heritage Resources Agency and Others v Mandela and Others (15867/2022) [2024] ZAGPPHC 295 (20 March 2024)
- Shai v Electoral Commission of South Africa and Others (013/21 EC) [2022] ZAEC 4 (22 February 2022)
- Shaik and Others v S (CCT 86/06) [2007] ZACC 19 (2 October 2007)
- Social Justice Coalition and Others v Minister of Police and Others [2022] ZACC 27 (19 July 2022)
- Solidarity and Another v Black First Land First and Others (163/2020) [2021] ZASCA 26 (24 March 2021)
- Solidarity and Others v Department of Correctional Services and Others; Solidarity and Others v Department of Correctional Services and Others (C368/2012; C968/2012) [2013] ZALCCT 14 (18 October 2013)
- Solidarity v National Commissioner of South African Police Service NO and Others (79041/2018) [2024] ZAGPPHC 303 (26 March 2024)
- South African Breweries (Pty) Ltd v Hansen NO and Others (CA 6/2016) [2017] ZALAC 102 (25 May 2017)
- South African Human Rights Commission on behalf of South African Jewish Board of Deputies v Masuku and Another [2022] ZACC 5 (16 February 2022)
- South African Police Service v Solidarity obo Barnard [2014] ZACC 23 (2 September 2014)
- South African Revenue Service v Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration and Others [2016] ZACC 38 (8 November 2016)
- Van Alphen v Rheinmetall Denel Munition (Pty) Ltd (C 418/2013) [2013] ZALCCT 13 (21 June 2013)
- Van Wyk and Others v Minister of Justice and Correctional Services and Others (29038/19) [2023] ZAGPPHC 180 (15 March 2023)
- Volks NO v Robinson and Others [2005] ZACC 2 (21 February 2005)
- West Coast Rock Lobster Association and Others v Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and Others (532/2009) [2010] ZASCA 114 (22 September 2010)
- Zwane v Sasol Technology and Another (91849/2015) [2023] ZAGPPHC 109 (22 February 2023)
Law Reform Report 1
Legislation 10
- Companies Act, 2008
- Consumer Protection Act, 2008
- Home Loan and Mortgage Disclosure Act, 2000
- KwaZulu-Natal Umzimkhulu Alignment Act, 2017
- Legal Aid South Africa Act, 2014
- Legal Aid of South Africa Regulations, 2017
- National Credit Act, 2005
- Protected Disclosures Act, 2000
- Rules and Procedures of the Council and its Committee
- Tourism Act, 2014