Pretoria - A legislation which seeks to improve efficiency and accountability within the judiciary portfolio has been signed into law.
President Jacob Zuma on Wednesday signed into law the Judicial Matters Amendment Act, 2015, which will see the amendment of several legislations.
Some of the amendments will bring about cost savings, while others will remove uncertainties identified in certain acts.
The act aims to amend the following pieces of legislation:
• Magistrates’ Court Act, 1944 – to further regulate the appointment of judicial officers;
• Criminal Procedure Act, 1955 – to repeal an obsolete provision;
• Prescribed Rate of Interest Act, 1975 – to further regulate the calculation of interest on a debt;
• Magistrate Act, 1993 – to regulate the pension benefits of a magistrate when he or she assumes office as a judge;
• Judicial Service Commission Act, 1994 – to replace the functionary accountable for the receipt and payment of money in respect of the administration and function of the Commission;
• Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 – to further regulate the training designated presiding officers (magistrates) for purposes of court proceedings arising out of application of the said Act;
• Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, 2000 – to further regulate the training designated presiding officers (magistrates) for purposes of court proceedings arising out of application of the said Act;
• Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, 2000 - to further regulate the training designated presiding officers (judges and magistrates) for purposes of court proceedings arising out of application of the said Act;
• Judges’ Remuneration and Conditions of Employment Act, 2001 – to substitute references to the Director-General: Justice and Constitutional Development with references to the Secretary-General of the Chief Justice;
• Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007 – to further regulate the reporting to Parliament by role –playing Ministers in respect of the implementation of that Act and their reports on training;
• South African Judicial Education Institute Act, 2008 –to replace the functionary accountable for the receipt and payment of money in respect of the administration and functioning of the South African Judicial Education Institute;
• Child Justice Act, 2008 – to further regulate the reporting to Parliament by roleplaying Ministers in respect of the implementation of that Act and to further regulate the expungement of records of certain convictions and diversion orders in respect if children; and
• Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act; 2013 – to further regulate protective measures for foreign victims of trafficking in persons, and to further regulate matters in respect of which regulations can be made.
Medicines and Related Substances Amendment Act
Meanwhile, President Zuma also signed into law the Medicines and Related Substances Amendment Act, 2015.
The act seeks to amend the Medicines and Related Substances Amendment Act, 1965.
This law will strengthen the current medicines regulatory authority, the Medicines Control Council (MCC), through the establishment of a new authority, the South African Health Product Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA). - SAnews.gov.za
