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Two Laws That Could Quietly Shift SA’s Future Are Now in Ramaphosa’s Hands

[His excellence: President Ramsphosa]

As South Africans go about their daily hustle—navigating rising costs, rolling blackouts, and a fragile job market—two crucial laws are sitting quietly on the President’s desk, waiting to shape the country's financial and social direction.

They don’t make headlines like scandals or elections. But make no mistake—the Older Persons’ Amendment Bill and the Division of Revenue Bill are two of the most significant pieces of legislation this year, and both are just one signature away from becoming law.

Together, these Bills will impact how the government protects vulnerable elderly citizens and how billions of rands in national funding will be shared between provinces and municipalities in the 2025 financial year.

So what exactly is waiting on Ramaphosa’s desk, and why should you care?

The first is the Older Persons’ Amendment Bill, introduced back in 2022 by the Department of Social Development. At its core, it aims to tighten the laws protecting elderly citizens across South Africa—a necessary update considering the alarming reports of abuse, neglect, and underfunding in many care facilities.

For the first time, this Bill allows for the removal of older persons into temporary safe care even without a court order, under strict and specific conditions. That’s a major move, especially in urgent cases of abuse or exploitation. The Bill also brings clarity by refining legal definitions and introduces monitoring and evaluation frameworks to ensure that care facilities remain accountable.

But this law didn’t have an easy path. It was first introduced during the sixth parliament but lapsed when that parliamentary term ended. It was only revived in December 2024 by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), amended, and finally passed by the National Assembly in June 2025.

It now waits on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s desk, ready to protect thousands of older South Africans—but only if he signs it.

Next is the Division of Revenue Bill, one of the most essential components of the 2025 National Budget. While it may sound like dry economics, this Bill actually determines how much funding each province and municipality will receive, and what responsibilities each level of government must uphold.

It’s the document that dictates whether your local clinic gets repaired, if potholes are filled, and whether schools in your province can afford extra textbooks next year.

The Division of Revenue Bill was introduced to Parliament on 21 May and passed on 17 July, just after one of the most chaotic budget seasons South Africa has seen in recent memory. The government has already tried—and failed—twice to pass the 2025 Budget due to controversy surrounding proposed VAT increases.

First, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana proposed a two-percentage point increase—from 15% to 17%. That caused instant backlash from the DA, the second-largest party in the Government of National Unity (GNU), who accused the proposal of being rushed and harmful to low-income households.

The second attempt introduced a milder increase of just 1% spread over two years, but even that drew legal challenges. The Democratic Alliance took the issue to the Western Cape High Court, which found the approval process of the budget flawed and set aside the National Assembly’s acceptance of the fiscal framework.

That ruling forced a third attempt at drafting a workable and legally sound Budget—making the Division of Revenue Bill one of the most anticipated documents in government this year.

As of now, Ramaphosa has signed it, but the larger Budget still hangs in the balance, waiting for the Appropriation Bill to be finalised in Parliament.

So while these two laws may not dominate trending hashtags, their impact is real and far-reaching.

One ensures our elders are safe.
The other decides how the country’s resources are shared.

And both sit squarely within the power of a signature.

What happens next will depend on how fast and decisively the President moves—and whether Parliament can resolve its internal political gridlock to ensure the 2025 Budget lands on stable ground.

For now, ordinary citizens wait. Quietly. As laws that could shift the lives of millions rest in silence on a presidential desk.

📌 Poll: Should VAT go up if it helps fund social grants and services?

  • Yes, if it’s temporary and transparent

  • No, it hurts poor households the most

  • Only if government reduces wasteful spending

  • Not sure, I need more info

Vote and share your thoughts below. This decision affects every South African.

Read also:
How Load Shedding is Quietly Killing Local Businesses
Why SA’s Rich Are Quietly Moving Billions Abroad
Why Young South Africans Are Quietly Abandoning the Job Hunt

Tags: #SouthAfrica2025Budget #OlderPersonsBill #DivisionOfRevenue #RamaphosaBills #SAParliamentNews #GovernmentBudget2025 #SocialDevelopmentSA #VATIncrease #EconomicPolicySA

Two new laws—one protecting the elderly and another shaping how SA's budget is shared—await President Ramaphosa’s signature. Here’s why they matter more than you think.

Sources:

For more fact-based, human-centred updates on the laws shaping South Africa’s future, visit Daily South African Pulse

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