CRIMINAL PROCEDURE AMENDMENT BILL (B84-97)

Issued by: SA Communication Service

9 September 1997

Issued by Adv Johnny de Lange, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Justice

It is notified for general information that the Criminal Procedure Amendment Bill (B84-97) has been tabled in Parliament and referred to the Portfolio Committee on Justice for enquiry and report.

The Constitutional Court, in S v Ntuli, held certain procedures in the Criminal Procedure Act to be unconstitutional. This amendment bill remedies the defects and, inter alia, introduces a screening mechanism in the form of leave to appeal, at the Magistrate's Court level. Provision is also made for legal representation, at state expense, if substantial injustice would otherwise result.

The Portfolio Committee requests any person or organisation who would like to make written representations on the Criminal Procedure Amendment Bill to do so by not later than 28 September 1997. Anyone who would like to further give oral evidence to the Committee in respect of such written submissions should also notify the Committee by not later than 28 September 1997.

Although it is permissible to make general comments on the Bill, representations about specific proposed amendments to the Bill are preferred.

The Portfolio Committee on Justice requests all persons and institutions who want to make written representation to make 40 copies available to it, if this is possible.

It should be pointed out that the Committee reserves the right to decide:

whether or not to hold public hearing on the Bill;
whether or not to give people or representatives of organisations the opportunity to appear before it; and
the date, time, venue of such verbal representations, if these are to take place.

All correspondence in this regard should be addressed to The Secretary to Parliament, P O Box 15, Cape Town, 8000, for the attention of Mr Ben Kali (Fax: 021-462 2141). Copies of the Bill may also be obtained from Mr Kali.

Issued by : Adv Johnny de Lange, MP

Committee Section: Mr Ben Kali Tel: 021-403 3843 Fax: 021-462 2141