Magistrates' Courts "Lower Courts" Act, 1944
R 385
Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007 (Act No. 32 of 2007)Chapter 6 : National Register for Sex Offenders42. Establishment of National Register for Sex Offenders and designation of Registrar of Register |
| (1) | A National Register for Sex Offenders containing particulars of persons convicted of any sexual offence or are alleged to have committed a sexual offence and who have been dealt with in terms of section 77(6) or 78(6) of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977, whether committed before or after the commencement of this Chapter and whether committed in or outside the Republic, must, in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter and the regulations made thereunder, be established and maintained by the Minister. |
[Section 42(1) substituted by section 14(a) of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2021 (Act No. 13 of 2021), GG45823, dated 28 January 2022 - effective 31 July 2022 as per Proclamation Notice R.79, GG47105, dated 29 July 2022]
| (2) | The Minister must designate a fit and proper person, with due regard to his or her experience, conscientiousness and integrity, as the Registrar of the National Register for Sex Offenders. |
(3)
| (a) | The Registrar must exercise and perform his or her powers, duties and functions subject to the provisions of this Chapter and the regulations made thereunder. |
| (b) | The Registrar may, subject to paragraph (c), delegate any power, duty or function to any other person, but the Registrar remains responsible and accountable for the exercise of the powers and the performance of the duties and functions so delegated. |
| (c) | The Registrar may not delegate his or her function referred to in section 51 to any other person. |
[Section 42(3) substituted by section 14(b) of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2021 (Act No. 13 of 2021), GG45823, dated 28 January 2022 - effective 31 July 2022 as per Proclamation Notice R.79, GG47105, dated 29 July 2022]
| (4) | Any person may, subject to subsection (5), apply, in the prescribed form, to the Registrar to determine whether the particulars of any person have been included in the Register or not. |
[Section 42(4) substituted by section 14(b) of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2021 (Act No. 13 of 2021), GG45823, dated 28 January 2022 - effective 31 July 2022 as per Proclamation Notice R.79, GG47105, dated 29 July 2022]
| (5) | The Registrar in considering the application must be satisfied that the— |
| (a) | application is not frivolous or vexatious; |
| (b) | person who has submitted the application has an interest in the disclosure of the information; and |
| (c) | disclosure of the information is in the interest of an identifiable vulnerable person. |
[Section 42(5) substituted by section 14(b) of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2021 (Act No. 13 of 2021), GG45823, dated 28 January 2022 - effective 31 July 2022 as per Proclamation Notice R.79, GG47105, dated 29 July 2022]
| (6) | Except in so far as it may be necessary for the purposes of this Chapter, any person who willfully discloses or publishes any information to any other person which he or she has acquired as a result of an application contemplated in subsection (4) or in any other manner, is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three years or to both a fine and such imprisonment. |
[Section 42(6) substituted by section 14(b) of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2021 (Act No. 13 of 2021), GG45823, dated 28 January 2022 - effective 31 July 2022 as per Proclamation Notice R.79, GG47105, dated 29 July 2022]
