History

• Since its inception, the act has been amended at least 11 times, with the most recent stemming from the Judicial Matters Amendment Act of 1999. The act's original purpose was to consolidate and amend existing laws relative to the appointment, powers and duties of justices of the peace and commissioners of oaths.
  
  

Effects

• According to the act, the Department of Justice appoints both justices of the peace and commissioners of oaths. A justice of the peace's primary responsibility involves keeping peace and order through the power of the courts, while a commissioner of oath's primary responsibility involves administering an oath to or receiving a legal declaration from a specific person.
  
  

Exceptions

• The act also stipulates that a person may become a justice of the peace or a commissioner of oaths without being appointed by the Department of Justice. Such a qualification is termed "ex officio," or by means of a position already held. For example, the act lists professional accountants in South Africa as ex officio commissioners of oaths.