Criminal and Related Matters Amendment Act | Act 12 of 2021 — South Africa law | Esheria

Criminal and Related Matters Amendment Act

This section inserts new sections 51A, 51B, and 51C after section 51 of the Magistrates’ Courts Act, 1944.

AI-assisted research synopsis — verify against the official legal text below.

Jurisdiction
South Africa
Instrument
Act or statute
Citation
Act 12 of 2021
Version
Undated source snapshot
Language
en
Updated
Official source
View official record ↗
amendment appeals arrest assault bail bail conditions correctional supervision costs court administration court appearance court evidence court hearings court procedure court proceedings criminal offences custody domestic violence electronic testimony evidence evidence and testimony intermediaries legislation amendment litigation offences +15 more

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Statute overview

About this statute

This section inserts new sections 51A, 51B, and 51C after section 51 of the Magistrates’ Courts Act, 1944. This provision inserts rules allowing courts to use intermediaries or audiovisual links for witness evidence in certain proceedings. A court may allow a witness in non-criminal proceedings to testify by audio-visual link if the witness consents and the listed conditions are met. This amendment lets certain detained accused persons be released on bail by a qualifying police official before first appearance in a lower court, if they pay the amount set at the police station. Section 59A is amended so that certain Directors of Public Prosecutions, or authorised prosecutors, may authorise bail for Schedule 7 offences, subject to consultation and an exception for some accused persons.