Public Safety Act, 1953

This article is about the PSA in South Africa. For the Public Safety Act (PSA) in Jammu and Kashmir, India, see Public Safety Act.

Public Safety Act, 1953

Parliament of South Africa

Long title

* Act to make provision for the safety of the public and the maintenance of public order in cases of emergency and for matters incidental thereto.

Citation| Act No. 3 of 1953
Enacted by| Parliament of South Africa
Royal assent| 24 February 1953
Commenced| 4 March 1953
Repealed| 6 October 1995
Administered by| Minister of Justice
Repealed by
State of Emergency Act, 1995
Status: Repealed

In 1953, the Public Safety Act was enacted by the apartheid South African government (coming into force 4 March). This Act empowered the government to declare stringent states of emergency and increased penalties for protesting against or supporting the repeal of a law.

This act was passed in response to civil disobedience campaigns by the African National Congress (ANC), in particular the Defiance Campaign of 1952 (instigated by ANC leaders, including Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu).

The Act included a provision that empowered the government to declare a state of emergency in any or every part of the country (South West Africa included) and to rule by proclamation. Under Section 3, this power was granted to the Governor General (and later, the State President), and it effectively put no limits on what measures might be taken, or for how long.[1]

Moreover, any law issued during a state of emergency could be made retrospective for four days to cover any emergency action taken by the police. The emergency regulations could suspend any act of Parliament, with a few exceptions. If the justice minister or administrator of South West Africa deemed it necessary, they could declare a state of emergency but the governor general had to approve their action within ten days.[1]

Under a state of emergency, the Minister of Law and Order, the Commissioner of the South African Police (SAP), a magistrate, or a commissioned officer [1] could detain any person for "reasons of public safety".[2] The Public Safety Act, further provided for detention without trial for any dissent.[2][3][4]

## Repeal

[edit]

The Act was repealed by the State of Emergency Act No 86 of 1995.

## See also

[edit]

* Category:Apartheid laws in South Africa
* Apartheid in South Africa

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "1953. Public Safety Act No 3 - The O'Malley Archives". omalley.nelsonmandela.org. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
2. ^ "Apartheid Legislation 1850s-1970s | South African History Online". www.sahistory.org.za. Retrieved 25 May 2020.

## External links

[edit]

* African History: Apartheid Legislation in South Africa

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Apartheid legislation in South Africa

Precursors
(before 1948)|

* Hut tax (1884)
* Franchise and Ballot Act (1892)
* Glen Grey Act (1894)
* Natal Legislative Assembly Bill (1894)
* Transvaal Asiatic Registration Act (1906)
* South Africa Act (1909)
* Mines and Works Act (1911)
* Natives Land Act (1913)
* Natives (Urban Areas) Act (1923)
* Immorality Act (1927)
* Native Administration Act (1927)
* Representation of Natives Act (1936)
* Native Trust and Land Act (1936)
* Native (Urban Areas) Consolidation Act (1945)
* Asiatic Land Tenure Act (1946)

Malan to
Verwoerd
(1948–1966)|

* Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act (1949)
* Immorality Amendment Act (1950)
* Population Registration Act (1950)
* Group Areas Act (1950)
* Suppression of Communism Act (1950)
* Native Building Workers Act (1951)
* Separate Representation of Voters Act (1951)
* Prevention of Illegal Squatting Act (1951)
* Bantu Authorities Act (1951)
* Native Laws Amendment Act (1952)
* Pass Laws Act (1952)
* Public Safety Act (1953)
* Native Labour (Settlement of Disputes) Act (1953)
* Bantu Education Act (1953)
* Reservation of Separate Amenities Act (1953)
* Natives Resettlement Act (1954)
* Group Areas Development Act (1955)
* Riotous Assemblies Act (1956)
* Industrial Conciliation Act (1956)
* Natives (Prohibition of Interdicts) Act (1956)
* Immorality Act (1957)
* Bantu Investment Corporation Act (1959)
* Extension of University Education Act (1959)
* Promotion of Bantu Self-government Act (1959)
* Unlawful Organizations Act (1960)
* Indemnity Act (1961)
* Coloured Persons Communal Reserves Act (1961)
* Republic of South Africa Constitution Act (1961)
* Urban Bantu Councils Act (1961)
* General Law Amendment Act (1963)
* Coloured Persons Representative Council Act (1964)

Post-Verwoerd
(1966–1994)|

* Terrorism Act (1967)
* Separate Representation of Voters Amendment Act (1968)
* Prohibition of Political Interference Act (1968)
* Bantu Homelands Citizenship Act (1970)
* Bantu Homelands Constitution Act (1971)
* Aliens Control Act (1973)
* Indemnity Act (1977)
* National Key Points Act (1980) - List of National Key Points
* Internal Security Act (1982)
* Intimidation Act (1982)
* Black Local Authorities Act (1982)
* Republic of South Africa Constitution Act (1983)

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