President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law legislation aimed at strengthening efforts to end gender-based violence, with a victim-centred focus on combating this dehumanising pandemic.
The President has assented to the Criminal and Related Matters Amendment Act 12 of 2021, the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act Amendment Act 13 of 2021 and the Domestic Violence Amendment Act 14 of 2021.
the Magistrates’ Courts Act, 1944, so as to provide for the appointment of
intermediaries and the giving of evidence through intermediaries in
proceedings other than criminal proceedings; the oath and competency of
intermediaries; and the giving of evidence through audiovisual link in
proceedings other than criminal proceedings;
the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977, so as to further regulate the granting and
cancellation of bail; the giving of evidence by means of closed circuit
television or similar electronic media; the giving of evidence by a witness
with physical, psychological or mental disability; the appointment, oath and
competency of intermediaries; and the right of a complainant in a domestic
related offence to participate in parole proceedings;
the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1997, so as to further regulate sentences
in respect of offences that have been committed against vulnerable persons;
and
the Superior Courts Act, 2013, so as to provide for the appointment of
intermediaries and the giving of evidence through intermediaries in
proceedings other than criminal proceedings; the oath and competency of
intermediaries; and the giving of evidence through audiovisual link in
proceedings other than criminal proceedings,
and to provide for matters connected therewith.
substitute the phrase ‘‘a person who is mentally disabled’’or ‘‘persons who are
mentally disabled’’ wherever the phrase appears with the phrase ‘‘a person
with a mental disability’’ or ‘‘persons with mental disabilities’’;
further regulate the inclusion of particulars of persons in the National
Register for Sex Offenders;
extend the list of persons who are to be protected in terms of Chapter 6 of the
Act;
extend the list of persons who are entitled to submit applications to the
Registrar of the National Register for Sex Offenders;
further regulate the removal of particulars of persons from the National
Register for Sex Offenders; and
further regulate the reporting duty of persons who are aware that sexual
offences have been committed against persons who are vulnerable,
and to provide for matters connected therewith.