President Jacob Zuma has set 1 March as the date on which the Legal Aid South Africa Act will come into operation, says the Presidency.

It said the President has set the date in terms of section 27 of the Legal Aid South Africa Act, 2014 (Act No. 39 of 2014).

“The act provides for the establishment of the Legal Aid South Africa as a national public entity as provided for in the Public Finance Management Act,” said the Presidency on Thursday.

It said the act also establishes a board that governs Legal Aid South Africa, and provides that Legal Aid South Africa is represented by the Chief Executive Officer and Director or Directors as may be designated by the board.

The Presidency said section three of the act further provides for the object of Legal Aid South Africa, namely to render or make available legal aid and legal advice and to provide legal representation at State expense, as envisaged in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and Legal Aid South Africa Act, as well as providing education and information concerning legal rights and obligations.