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Environment Conservation Act, 1989 (Act No. 73 of 1989)

Part VII : Offences, Penalties and Forfeiture

29. Offences and penalties

 

1) Any person-
a) who, having been duly summoned to appear at proceedings under section 15, fails without lawful excuse so to appear, or
b) who, having appeared as a witness at proceedings under section 15, refuses without lawful excuse to be sworn or to make affirmation or to produce any book, document or thing or to answer any question which he may be lawfully required to Produce or answer, shall be guilty of an offence.

 

2) Any person-
a) referred to in section 16(3) who contravenes any provision of a direction issued under section 16(2) or fails to comply therewith; or
b) who contravenes a provision of section 18(6) or a condition of an exemption in terms of section 18(7),

shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding R8 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

 

3) Any person who contravenes a provision of section 19 or 19A or fails to comply therewith, or fails to comply with a direction in terms of section 31A(1) or (2), or prevents any person authorised in terms of section 41A to enter upon such land or hinders him in the execution of his powers, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine, or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months.

 

4) Any person who contravenes a provision of section 20(1), 20(9), 22(1) or 23(2) or a direction issued under section 20(5) or fails to comply with a condition of a permit, permission, authorization or direction issued or granted under the said provisions shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding R5 million or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years and in the case of second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding R10 million or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 10 years or in both instances to both such fine and such imprisonment, and in addition to a fine not exceeding three times the commercial value of any thing in respect of which the offence was committed.

 

5) Any person convicted of an offence in terms of this Act for which no penalty is expressly provided, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding R500 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

 

6) Any person convicted of an offence in terms of this Act, and who after such conviction persists in the act or omission which constituted such offence, shall be guilty of a continuing offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding R1 000 per day or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment in respect of every day on which he or she so persists with such act or omission.

 

7) In the event of a conviction in terms of this Act the court may order that any damage to the environment resulting from the offence be repaired by the person so convicted, to the satisfaction of the Minister, the competent authority concerned or the local authority concerned.

 

8) If within a period of 30 days after a conviction or such longer period as the court may determine at the time of the conviction, an order in terms of subsection (7) is not being complied with, the Minister, the competent authority concerned or local authority concerned may itself take the necessary steps to repair the damage and recover the cost thereof from the person so convicted.

 

9) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any law contained, a magistrate's court shall be competent to impose any penalty provided for in this Act.