At the request of the Government of the Republic of South Africa (South Africa), an international team of senior safety experts met representatives of the Department of Energy, Department of Health and two Regulatory Bodies (NNR and Directorate Radiation Control in the Department of Health) from 5 to 15 December 2016 to conduct an Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) mission.

The purpose of this IRRS mission was to  review the South African radiation and nuclear safety regulatory framework and activities against the relevant IAEA safety standards and to exchange information and experience in the areas covered by the Mission. The agreed scope of the IRRS Mission included all facilities and activities regulated by the Regulatory Bodies.

In preparation for the IRRS Mission the Regulatory Bodies conducted a self-assessment which was provided to the IAEA IRRS Team prior to the Mission.

The review was conducted through meetings, interviews and discussions, visits to facilities and direct observations regarding the national legal, governmental and regulatory framework for nuclear and radiation safety. The draft IRRS Mission report was handed to the Government and Regulatory Bodies representatives during the exit meeting which was followed by a joint IAEA and South Africa press conference.