Pretoria – Although the Portfolio Committee on Social Development has welcomed the presentation on proposed amendments to the Children’s Act (Act No. 38 of 2005), it said further input was necessary.
“Although we welcome the presentation, the Committee is still required to follow due processes of formulating a legislation including analysing new amendments clause by clause as well as soliciting inputs from members of the public and interested groups through public hearings,” said Committee Chairperson Zoleka Capa.
On Thursday, Member of Parliament Mike Walters presented the objectives of the amendments to the committee.
He said the key objective of the Bill was to amend section 120(4) and (5) of the Act.
Among other proposals, the Children’s Amendment Bill seeks to introduce the definition of ‘sexual offence’ as a way of aligning the Children’s Act with the Sexual Offences Act.
The Bill also proposes creating a ‘deeming’ provision in the Children’s Act that makes it easier to find adult offenders unsuitable to work with children.
Currently, a finding that a person is unsuitable to work with children is not dependent upon a finding of guilt or innocence in the criminal trial of the person.
Capa said Walter’s presentation was informative and highlighted interesting aspects that could strengthen the protection of children.
“We are happy that it came at the time when the Committee was working on the Children’s Amendment Bill and Children’s Second Amendment Bill which were tabled to Parliament by the Department of Social Development (DSD).”
However, Capa said the committee was not in a position to say whether or not it accepted the proposed amendments, adding that the members needed enough time to study them in conjunction with the other amendments contained in the two Bills tabled by the department.
The Committee is set to have four public hearings on the Children’s Amendment Bill and Children’s Second Amendment Bill, in September. - SAnews.gov.za
