INTERCEPTION AND MONITORING BILL

Issued by: Parliament of the Republic of South Africa

18 July 2001

Press statement issued by Adv. Johnny de Lange, MP and Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Justice & Constitutional Development.

The Interception and Monitoring Bill has been introduced in Parliament and is referred to the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development for consideration.

The Bill aims to regulate the interception and Monitoring of certain communications; to provide for interception of postal articles and communications and for the monitoring of communications in the case of a serious offence or if the security or other compelling national interests of the republic are threatened; to prohibit the provision of certain telecommunication services which do not have the capacity to be monitored; to regulate authorised telecommunications monitoring; and to provide for matters connected therewith.

If any person or organisation would like to make written representations on the Interception and Monitoring Bill he or she should do so by no later than 13 August 2001. Anyone who would like to give further oral evidence to the Committee in regard to his or her written submissions should notify the Committee by no later than 13 August 2001.

If the need should arise public hearings will provisionally be scheduled to take place during the third term of parliament in 2001.

The Committee requests all persons and institutions that wish to send submissions to make 30 copies available to the Committee, if possible.

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

Whether or not to hold public hearings on the Bill
Whether or not to give individuals or representatives of organisations the opportunity to appear before it, and
The date, time, venue, duration and form of the hearing.

All correspondence in this regard should be addressed to:

The Secretary to Parliament
PO Box 15
Cape Town
8000

All correspondence should be marked for the attention of Collette Herzenberg or Zodwa Zenzile (fax 021-462 2142). Copies of the Bill may, upon availability, be obtained from Ms Herzenberg and Ms Zenzile.

Issued by Adv Johnny de Lange, MP

Contact

Zodwa Zenzile (izenzile@parliament.gov.za)
Tel: 021-403 3660
Collette Herzenberg (cherzenberg@parliament.gov.za)
Tel: 021-403 3669