[co-author: Kyle Bowles - Candidate Attorney]

On 19 December 2017, President Jacob Zuma assented to the International Arbitration Act 15 of 2017. The Act, which was passed by Parliament in the first week of December 2017, incorporates the Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration, as adopted by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, into South African law.

The Act seeks to bring South African law in line with international developments by providing for the recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards, repealing the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards Act of 1977, which has been described as inadequate and outdated, and amending the Protection of Businesses Act of 1978.