SOCIAL RELIEF OF DISTRESS GRANT

• The Department of Social Development has issued a Government Gazette notice announcing that:
  • on 1 August 2022 the grant was increased to R624 per month
  • ‘verification of insufficient means with banks’ is no longer required, and that
  • the continuing payment of grants to legitimate recipients is no longer subject to three-monthly qualifying criteria checks.

 

CHILD JUSTICE

• The Child Justice Amendment Act, 2019, is now in force by presidential proclamation in the Government Gazette, among other things raising the age of criminal capacity from 10 to 12.
• The regulations have been amended to reflect this.

 

SEXUAL OFFENCES

• Amendments have been made to regulations under the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007, affecting:
  • inclusion in the national register for sex offenders
  • removal from the register, and
  • the implications of having been recorded as a sex offender when being considered for certain types of employment and caregiving responsibilities.

 

PORTS OF ENTRY

• The Department of Home Affairs has gazetted a notice confirming that, since 1 August 2022, all ports of entry have been open. Some were closed during the Covid-19 State of Disaster.

 

BORDER MANAGEMENT

• Most sections of the Border Management Authority Act, 2020, are now in force, except for:
  • Chapter 3 (the appointment of commissioners and deputy commissioners), and
  • Chapter 8 (committees and implementation protocols).

 

BROADBAND WIRELESS ACCESS

• The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa has issued a media statement calling for public comments on an information memorandum:
  • outlining ‘the second phase of the licensing process’, and
  • identifying the ‘low and mid International Mobile Telecommunications ... frequency bands’ to be considered for licensing ‘within … designated frequency ranges’.

 

FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE

• The movement of cattle has been banned nationwide by notice in the Government Gazette. According to a Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development media statement announcing the decision, the ban does not apply to moving cattle for:
  • direct slaughter at a registered abattoir, or
  • slaughter for ritual purposes, although
  • in each instance, a veterinary permit is required.

 

LEGAL PRACTICE COUNCIL

• Amendments have been made to:
  • the rules on council fees, and
  • the obligations of a legal practitioner under the council’s code of conduct when presenting a case in court with little chance of success, but where a client insists on proceeding against the practitioner’s advice.
• Input is sought on proposed amendments to the rules on:
  • admission, where the applicant has a criminal record or is awaiting the outcome of a criminal investigation, and
  • allegations of misconduct.

 

BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT

• The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has gazetted a revised framework for sustainable management and conservation with the intention of co-ordinating and aligning the efforts of all organisations involved.

 

Prepared by Pam Saxby