Judicial Matters Amendment Bill [B 48B-2008]

14th November 2008

To amend the General Law Amendment Act, 1935, so as to further regulate the concealment of birth of a newly born child; to amend the Administration of Estates Act, 1965, so as to regulate the calculation of interest payable in respect of certain moneys paid into the Guardian’s Fund and substitute obsolete terminology; to amend the Medicines and Related Substances Act, 1965, so as to effect a technical correction in the Afrikaans text; to amend the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977, so as to substitute obsolete references; to further regulate the payment of admission of guilt fines; to further regulate the release of an accused person on bail; to further regulate the appointment of psychiatrists in cases involving the mental capacity of an accused person; to provide for the prosecution of persons who commit offences while doing diplomatic duty outside of the Republic; to further regulate the imposition of periodical imprisonment; and to further regulate appeals in criminal proceedings from a magistrate’s court to a High Court and from a High Court to the Supreme Court of Appeal; to amend the Attorneys Act, 1979, so as to extend the category of persons entitled to engage candidate attorneys; and to increase the fines that may be imposed on attorneys and candidate attorneys for improper conduct; to amend the Admiralty Jurisdiction Act, 1983, so as to further regulate the form of proceedings relating to maritime claims; to amend the Matrimonial Property Act, 1984, so as to remove a discriminatory provision; to amend the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1997, so as insert certain serious offences in Part I of Schedule 2; to amend the Debt Collectors Act, 1998, so as to further regulate the appointment of members of the Council for Debt Collectors; to further regulate the number of the members of the executive committee of the Council for Debt Collectors; to further regulate the trust accounts of debt collectors; and to regulate the recusal of members of committees appointed to deal with disciplinary matters; to amend the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000, so as to extend the period within which rules of procedure must be made; and to further regulate the liability of persons exercising powers or performing duties in terms of the Act; to amend the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, 2000, so as to extend the period within which to make rules of procedure for judicial review; to extend the period within which the code of good administrative conduct must be made; and to effect a technical correction in the IsiXhosa text; to amend the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, 2000, so as further regulate the remuneration and allowances payable to members of the Equality Review Committee; to amend the Judges’ Remuneration and Conditions of Employment Act, 2001, so as to further regulate the service of judges after discharge from active service; to amend the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, 2004, so as to further regulate penalties; to amend the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007, so as to extend the period within which the National Register for Sex Offenders must be established; to extend the period within which the National Commissioner of Correctional Services, the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service and the Director- General: Health must forward particulars in their possession to the Registrar of the National Register for Sex Offenders; to extend the period within which the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development must adopt and table the policy framework relating to sexual offences, in Parliament; and to provide for
matters connected therewith.