Question NW1781 to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
21 June 2022 - NW1781
Horn, Mr W to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
What total number of persons (a) paid acknowledgement of guilt fines after being charged with offences in terms of the State of Disaster Regulations, as amended from time to time, declared and maintained by government from 15 March 2020 until 4 April 2022 in order to manage the COVID-19 pandemic and (b) have been found guilty after a formal trial and/or are being charged with offences in terms of the specified State of Disaster Regulations?
Reply:
The South African Police Service or Department of Justice and Constitutional Development would be in a better position to respond to the above question, especially due to admission of guilt options having been determined by the Judiciary on various of these contraventions.
Persons charged with offences related to contraventions in terms of the State of Disaster Regulations, may have paid admission of guilt at either a Police Station or any Court house. The dockets, in which admission of guilt were paid, would not be sent to the National Prosecuting Authority – except if the admission of guilt fine may have been set aside in in terms of Section 57(7) of the criminal Procedure Act, Act 51 of 1977. The National Prosecuting Authority will therefore not have the requested information.