Legislative Developments

Cabinet has approved the publication of the Customary Initiation Bill. Once approved, the Bill will deal with the abuse of the initiation practice and provide norms and standards for conducting this customary practice.

The Minister of Health said that in order to enable the introduction of NHI, a number of existing legislation will need to be changed. These include the National Health Act, Mental Health Care Act, Health Professions Act, Traditional Health Practitioners Act, Allied Health Professions, Medical Schemes Act and the Nursing Act. 

The Gauteng High Court declared Section 24s and 28 of the Firearms Control Act (Act 60 of 2000) unconstitutional and ruled that all firearm licences that expired or were due to expire, would be deemed valid until the Constitutional Court has reviewed the constitutionality of these sections. Furthermore, Parliament was given 18 months within which to effect the amendment of the Act in order to ensure constitutional compliance

The Western Cape Cabinet has approved the submission of the Western Cape Provincial School Education Amendment Bill to the Provincial Parliament. . The salient objects of the Amendment Bill are to make provision, inter alia, for:

• the establishment of an evaluation authority to be known as the Western Cape Schools Evaluation Authority
• the specific provision for collaboration schools and donor funded schools
• the establishment of intervention facilities for learners who have been found guilty of serious misconduct, as an alternative to expulsion    
• provision for addressing restrictive legislation regarding the sale and the consumption of alcohol on school premises.

The Criminal Procedure Amendment Bill has been signed into law by the President.

Parliament approved the Courts of Law Amendment Bill  and Judicial Matters Amendment Bill  and thereafter sent them to the President for assent.

The Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services invites you to submit written submissions on the Cybercrimes and Cybersecurity Bill [B6 – 2017]:

The purpose of the Cybercrimes and Cybersecurity Amendment Bill is to:
▪ create offences and impose penalties which have a bearing on cybercrime;
▪ criminalise the distribution of data messages which is harmful and to provide for interim protection orders;
▪ further regulate jurisdiction in respect of cybercrimes;
▪ further regulate the powers to investigate cybercrimes;
▪ further regulate aspects relating to mutual assistance in respect of the investigation of cybercrime;
▪ provide for the establishment of a 24/7 Point of Contact;
▪ further provide for the proof of certain facts by affidavit;
▪ impose obligations on electronic communications service providers and financial institutions to assist in the investigation of cybercrimes and to report cybercrimes;
▪ provide for the establishment of structures to promote cybersecurity and capacity building;
▪ regulate the identification and declaration of critical information infrastructures and measures to protect critical information infrastructures;
▪ provide that the Executive may enter into agreements with foreign States to promote cybersecurity;
▪ delete and amend provisions of certain laws; and

Comments can be emailed to Mr V Ramaano at [email protected] by no later than Friday, 28 July 2017

Cabinet approved the publication of the Sectional Titles Amendment Bill of 2017 for public comment. The amendments update the working, functioning, application and administration of the Sectional Titles Act, 1986 (Act 95 of 1986). The current Sectional Titles Act of 1986 bestows certain rights on owners of sections in sectional titles scheme. The proposed amendment Bill proposes regulations of these rights in a meaningful manner.