Question NW1780 to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
18 July 2022 - NW1780
Horn, Mr W to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
What total number of persons (a) were charged with offences in terms of the State of Disaster Regulations, as amended from time to time, declared and maintained by the Government from 15 March 2020 until 4 April 2022 in order to manage the COVID-19 pandemic and (b) formally appeared in court on a charge of contravening the said regulations?
Reply:
a) The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) does not arrest or charge accused but is involved in the prosecution of accused persons. The South African Police Service will 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 and those dockets would not be sent to NPA – except if the admission of guilt fine may have been set aside in terms of Section 57(7) of the Criminal Procedure Act, Act 51 of 1977.
b) Information extracted from the Electronic Case Management System consists of 265 accused still in court with cases involving 9 489 accused disposed of in court. The total accused that appeared on charges relating to the State of Disaster Regulations amounts to 9 754 accused.