ATC221111: Report of the Select Committee on Security and Justice on the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Amendment Bill [B19-2022] (National Assembly – sec 75), dated 11 November 2022

NCOP Security and Justice

Report of the Select Committee on Security and Justice on the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Amendment Bill [B19-2022] (National Assembly – sec 75), dated 11 November 2022.

 

The Select Committee on Security and Justice, having deliberated on and considered the subject of the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Amendment Bill [B19-2022] (National Assembly – sec 75), referred to it on 27 September 2022, reports that it has agreed to the Bill without proposed amendments and reports as follows:

 

1. Background

 

The Drugs and Drug Trafficking Amendment Bill [B19-2022] (National Assembly – sec 75) seeks—

 

• to amend the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act, 1992 (Act No. 140 of 1992) to address the constitutional invalidity of section 63 and the amendments that the Minister effected in terms of section 63, to Schedule 1 and Schedule 2.

 

1. Public participation process on Drugs and Drug Trafficking Amendment Bill [B19-2022] (National Assembly – sec 75)

 

The Select Committee on Security and Justice invited stakeholders and interested persons to make written submissions and published the adverts on Parliament’s electronic platforms and national newspapers from 18 October 2022 to 4 November 2022.

 

1. Summary of Submissions:

 

The Committee received one written submission from an individual. The proposals contained in the submission related to matters not covered by the Bill and instead made recommendations in respect of the enforcement of the Bill.

  

 

1. Committee consideration of the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Amendment Bill [B19-2022] (National Assembly – sec 75)

 

The Select Committee received a briefing on the Bill on 12 October 2022. On 9 November 2022, the Select Committee received a further briefing from the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development on the written submission and the Department’s response to said submission.

 

Members were satisfied with the Department’s response to the written submission and the Select Committee considered the Bill as tabled and adopted the Bill without proposed amendments. The Committee adopted the report on the Bill.

 

1. Consensus on the Bill

 

The Chairperson put the Bill for consideration: the majority of members supported the Bill. There were no objections or abstentions.

 

1. Recommendation

 

The Select Committee on Security and Justice, having considered the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Amendment Bill [B19-2022] (National Assembly – sec 75), referred to it on 27 September 2022 and classified by the JTM as a section 75 Bill, recommends the Council pass the Bill without proposed amendments.  

 

Report to be considered.