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A stronger democracy starts with being heard.

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OpenComments is not a government website. We gather public information from official sources, simplify it for easier participation, and link to source records where available. Full disclaimer.

© 2026 OpenComments

Proudly South African
DiscoverDashboardLearn

Understand the power you already have

Your voice matters in South African democracy. Learn how laws are made, discover your constitutional rights, and make an impact on policies that affect your life.

In this guide

  • 01How laws are made
  • 02How to participate
  • 03Resources
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01 · Legislative Process

From idea to law

Parliament is the legislative authority of South Africa. Here's how a bill becomes law,and where you can make your voice heard.

Who holds the pen

05 stages
  1. Green Paper

    01· The Executive

    Pre-Legislative

    Discussion documents (Green Papers) outline initial policy thinking, evolving into refined White Papers.

  2. Bill

    02· Parliament

    Bill Introduction

    A Bill is introduced by a Minister, committee, or MP. About 90% come from the Executive branch.

  3. Your Submission

    03· You

    Public Participation

    This is YOUR opportunity! Committees hold public hearings for written and oral submissions.

  4. NA · NCOP

    04· Parliament

    Parliamentary Debate

    The Bill is debated in the National Assembly and NCOP. Both houses must pass it.

  5. Act

    05· The President

    Presidential Assent

    The President signs the Bill into law. It becomes an Act and is published in the Government Gazette.

02 · Action Guide

A stronger democracy starts with being heard.

Follow these four steps to submit effective public comments that get noticed by policymakers.

01

Find Consultations

Browse open consultations filtered by sector, deadline, or government level.

Browse Consultations
02

Read & Understand

Review AI summaries to grasp main points, then read details that affect you.

03

Write Your Submission

Structure your comment: introduce yourself, state 2-4 clear points with evidence, and suggest changes.

04

Submit & Track

Get a reference number and PDF receipt. Track status on your dashboard.

View Dashboard

Writing tips

Do

  • Be concise,quality over quantity
  • Use respectful language
  • Reference specific sections
  • Provide evidence for your points

Avoid

  • Copy-paste generic text
  • Inflammatory language
  • Vague criticisms without solutions
  • Submissions over 2 pages

03 · Reference Library

Helpful resources

Official sources and guides for understanding South African lawmaking and public participation.

Official Government Resources

04 links

Primary sources from SA Government

  • How a Law is MadeParliament of SA
  • Law-making ProcessSA Government
  • Bills in ParliamentLive parliamentary bills
  • Legislative Process GuideDept of Justice

A stronger democracy starts with being heard.

FAQContactAccess to information

OpenComments is not a government website. We gather public information from official sources, simplify it for easier participation, and link to source records where available. Full disclaimer.

© 2026 OpenComments

Proudly South African