REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
PROMOTION OF ACCESS TO INFORMATION AMENDMENT BILL
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(As presented by the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development (National Assembly), after consideration of the Judicial Matters Amendment Bill [B… - 2002] ) (The English text is the official text of the Bill)
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(MINISTER FOR JUSTICE AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT)
[B - 2002]
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REPUBLIEK VAN SUID-AFRIKA
WYSIGINGSWETSONTWERP OP BEVORDERING VAN TOEGANG TOT INLIGTING
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(Soos voorgelê deur die Portefeuljekomitee van Justisie en Staatkundige Ontwikkeling (Nasionale Vergadering), na oorweging van die Wysigingswet op Geregtelike Aangeleenhede [W .. –2002]) (Die Afrikanse teks is die amptelike vertaling van die Wetsontwerp)
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(MINISTER VIR JUSTISIE EN STAATKUNDIGE ONTWIKKELING)
[W - 2002]
Bill
GENERAL EXPLANATORY NOTE:
[ ] Words in bold type in square brackets indicate omissions from existing enactments.
___________ Words underlined with a solid line indicate insertions in existing enactments.
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B I L L
To amend the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000, so as to amend a definition and to provide for the training of presiding officers in the magistrates' courts for purposes of the Act; and to provide for matters connected therewith.
Amendment of section 1 of Act 2 of 2000
1. Section 1 of the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000, is hereby amended by the substitution for the definition of "court" of the following definition:
"'court' means –
(a) the Constitutional Court acting in terms of section 167(6)(a) of the Constitution; or
(b) (i) a High Court or another court of similar status; or
(ii) a Magistrate's Court, either generally or in respect of a specified class of decisions in terms of this Act, designated by the Minister by notice in the Gazette and presided over by a magistrate or an additional magistrate designated in [writing by the Minister after consultation with the Magistrates Commission] terms of section 91A,
within whose area of jurisdiction –
(aa) the decision of the information officer or relevant authority of the public body or the head of a private body has been taken;
(bb) the public body or private body concerned has its principal place of administration or business; or
(cc) the requester or third party concerned is domiciled or ordinarily resident;".
Insertion of section 91A in Act 2 of 2000
2. The following section is hereby inserted after section 91 of the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000:
"Designation and training of presiding officers
91A. (1) (a) The head of an administrative region defined in section 1 of the Magistrates' Courts Act, 1944 (Act No. 32 of 1944), must, subject to subsection (2), designate in writing any magistrate or additional magistrate as a presiding officer of a Magistrate's Court designated by the Minister in terms of section 1 of this Act.
(b) A presiding officer must perform the functions and duties and exercise the powers assigned to or conferred on him or her under this Act or any other law.
(2) Only a magistrate or additional magistrate who has completed a training course –
(a) before the date of commencement of this section; or
(b) as contemplated in subsection (5),
and whose name has been included on the list contemplated in subsection (4)(a), may be designated in terms of subsection (1).
(3) The heads of administrative regions must –
(a) take all reasonable steps within available resources to designate at least one presiding officer for each magistrate's court within his or her area of jurisdiction which has been designated by the Minister in terms of section 1; and
(b) without delay, inform the Director-General: Justice and Constitutional Development of any magistrate or additional magistrate who has completed a training course as contemplated in subsections (5) and (6) or who has been designated in terms of subsection (1).
(4) The Director-General: Justice and Constitutional Development must compile and keep a list of every magistrate or additional magistrate who has –
(a) completed a training course as contemplated in subsections (5) and (6); or
(b) been designated as a presiding officer of a magistrate's court contemplated in subsection (1).
(5) The Chief Justice must, in consultation with the Judicial
Service Commission and the Magistrates Commission, develop the content of training courses with the view to building a dedicated and experienced pool of trained and specialised presiding officers for purposes of presiding in court proceedings as contemplated in this Act.
(6) The Chief Justice must, in consultation with the Judicial
Service Commission, the Magistrates Commission and the Minister, implement the training courses referred to in subsection (5).
(7) The Minister must table a report in Parliament, as prescribed,
relating to the content and implementation of the training courses referred to in subsections (5) and (6).".
Short title
3. This Act is called the Promotion of Access to Information Amendment Act, 2002.
MEMORANDUM ON THE OBJECTS OF THE PROMOTION OF ACCESS TO INFORMATION AMENDMENT BILL, 2002
1. PURPOSE
The purpose of this Bill is to further regulate the designation of magistrates or additional magistrates for purposes of presiding in court proceedings as contemplated in the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 (Act No. 2 of 2000) (the Act), and to provide for the training of such magistrates.
2. OBJECTS OF BILL
2.1 The term "court" is, for purposes of the Act, among others, defined as a Magistrate's Court, either generally or in respect of a specified class of decisions in terms of the Act, designated by the Minister by notice in the Gazette and presided over by a magistrate designated by the Minister after consultation with the Magistrates Commission. The objection has been raised against the provisions of the definition which deal with the designation of magistrates, to the effect that they infringe on the independence of the judiciary and the principle of the separation of powers. Clause 1 of the Bill, which must be read with clause 2, aims to amend the definition of "court" contained in section 1 of the Act so as to address this objection.
2.2 Clause 2 gives the head of an administrative region as defined in section 1 of the Magistrates' Courts Act, 1944 (Act No. 32 of 1944), the power to designate a magistrate or an additional magistrate for purposes of presiding in court proceedings as contemplated in the Act in that administrative region. Only magistrates or additional magistrates who have received training, the content of which is developed by the judiciary, may be so designated.
3. DEPARTMENTS/BODIES/PERSONS CONSULTED
The Judges President of the High Courts, Chief Magistrates, Regional Court Presidents and Heads of Administrative Regions.
4. IMPLICATIONS FOR PROVINCES
None.
5. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE
The training of magistrates will be undertaken within the available resources of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.
6. PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE
The State Law Advisers and the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development are of the opinion that the Bill must be dealt with in accordance with the procedure established by section 75 of the Constitution since it contains no provision to which the procedure set out in section 74 or 76 of the Constitution applies.