O n December 11, 1996, South Africa enacted the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act, which gives women of any age or marital status access to abortion services upon request during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, and in cer-tain cases, extends access to the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. This act replaced a 1975 law that severely curtailed access to abortion services by requiring a physi-cian's, and in some cases a magistrate's, approval for abortion procedures. The law's passage was a crucial advance for women, as it represented the recognition of reproductive rights by South Africa's first democratically elected parliament. This article examines the policies that have regulated accessibility of abortion and assesses their impact on reproductive health. We also describe the newly enacted legisla-tion, and examine some of the difficulties that will need to be overcome to ensure that women derive full benefit from the law.