The Gauteng Legislature announces the official enactment into law of the Gauteng Petitions Amendment Act No. 3 of 2025.
Building on the foundation laid by the first petitions legislation of 1998, this progressive amendment strengthens Gauteng’s democratic framework by enhancing government responsiveness and reminding citizens of their right to petition.
All new petitions submitted from now onwards will be subject to the provisions of the 2025 Act.
The revised Act improves the petitioning process by introducing the following aspects:
Enhanced accountability: Members of the Executive Council (MECs) are now required to report both quarterly and annually to the Legislature on all petitions received and response actions. When invited by the Petitions Committee, MECs must bring along departments’ relevant senior officials to account for petitions relating to their respective portfolios.
Mandatory Internal Remedies: Before submitting a petition to the Legislature, citizens must exhaust all relevant internal processes at the municipal level. This includes submitting service delivery concerns to the local municipal petitions committee, with proper evidence. This aims to promote procedural fairness and administrative efficiency.
Defined timeframes: Executive authorities and municipalities must respond to petitions within 30 working days. Where more time is required, they must formally request an extension and commit to a new deadline not exceeding 14 additional working days.
