25. Whenever a person is charged in terms of the Act with an offence of failing t o t a k reasonable steps to ensure that no explosives are brought onto premises under his or her 40 ounership or control in contravention of this Act, proof that such explosives wert' brought onto premises under his or her ownership or control in contravention of this Act. will. in the absence of evidence to the contrary which raises reasonable doubt. be sufficient evidence that he or she failed to take such reasonable steps. CHAPTER 7 PLASTIC EXPLOSIVES Acts relating to unmarked plastic explosives 26. (1) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Act but subject to subsection ( 3 ). transport, keep, store, possess, transfer, purchase. no person may manufacture. import, sell, supply or export any unmarked plastic explosives. ( 2 ) ( a ) The marking of plastic explosives must be done in such a manner as to achieve 50 homogeneous distribution in the finished product. 96 N o , 25893 GOVERNMENTGAZETTE. S JAiSUXh:)' :004 _ _ Act No. 15.2003 EXPLOSIVES ACT, 2003 ( b ) The minimum concentration of a detection agent in the finished product at the time of manufacture must be in accordance with the Technical Annex to the Conventlon. ( 3 ) Subsection (1) does not apply- (a) for 15 years after 8 May 1998 in respect of the transportation, keeping. storage, possession, transfer or explosives manufactured in, or imported into, the Republic before that date by or on behalf of an organ of state performing military or police functions: or transmission of any unmarked plastic (6) in respect of the manufacture, importation, transportation, keeping. storaye. supply or transmission of any unmarked plastic possession, transfer, sale, explosives in limited quantities as may be determined in writing by the Chief Inspector- (i) solely for use in- (aa) research into or development or testing of new or moditled explosives; (bb) training in the detection of explosives; or (cc) the development or testing of equipment for the detection of explosives; or (ii) solely for forensic purposes, and under such conditions as may be prescribed. Information regarding plastic explosives 27. ( 1 ) Any person must, within 30 days after obtaining possession of or control o\'er any plastic explosives, inform the Chief Inspector in writing- ( a ) of the quantity of such plastic explosives; ( b ) of the name of the manufacturer or importer thereof; (c) of any marks of identification thereon: and ( d ) whether or not it is marked with a detection agent. (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to any member of the South African National Defence Force or the South African Police Service performing official military or police duties. CHAPTER 8 OFFENCES, PENALTIES, JURISDICTION AND APPEALS 5 I O I5 2 0 25 30 Offences 28. (1) It is an offence to contravene or fail to comply with any- ( a ) provision of this Act; (b) condition of a licence, permit or authorisation issued or granted by or under this Act; or ( c ) provision, direction or requirement of a notice issued under this Act. ( 2 ) It is an offence t o - ( a ) falsely represent oneself as ( 6 ) wilfully obstruct or hinder an inspector; the exercise of the powers conferred upon him or her or in the performance of the duties assigned t o him or her in terms of this Act; any inspector in (c) disobey any lawful order of an inspector, whether verbal or in writing; or (d) wilfully give false information to an inspector. (3) It is an offence for any person t o - (a) create, distribute, produce or import or be in possession of a publication. whether in electronic or any other form, synthesising of explosives; or which contains methods for the ( h ) obtain information with regard to the method for the synthesising of explosives, unless the publication relates to the performance of any activity permitted by a licence, a permit, an authorisation or a permission issued or given to him or her in terms of this Act. or information 28 No. 75893 GOVERNMENT G A Z E T E . 8 JANUARY 2004 Act No. 15,2003 EXPLOSIVES ACT. 2003 (4) It is an offence for the owner or person in control of premises not to take reasonable steps to ensure that no explosives are brought onto the premises. ( 5 ) ( a ) In the absence of evidence to the contrary which raises reasonable doubt, any person found in possession of explosives under such circumstances as to give rise to ,a reasonable suspicion that he or she intended to use the explosives for the purpose of injuring any person or damaging any property, is guilty of an offence. ( b ) For the purposes of paragraph (a), “explosives” includes any container, apparatus, instrument. incendiary inflammable substance which has been adapted explosion or a fire. device or any part thereof or article which contains any so that it can be used to cause an 5 10 Penalties 29. (1) Any person convicted of a contravention of or a failure to comply with-- ( a ) section 22(2), is liable to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 25 years; ( 6 ) section l l ( 1 ) or (2), 13(1), 14(1), ( 2 ) or (3), lS(1) or 1’7, is liable, in the case of a- (i) first offender, to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 15 years; (ii) second offender, to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 20 years; 15 and (iii) third or subsequent offender, to imprisonment for a period not exceeding! 25 years; ( c ) section 22(3) or (4). where the- (i) act or omission is wilful and death does not result therefrom, is liable to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding I5 years. or to both a fine and such imprisonment; (ii) explosion is caused by a negligent act or omission and death results. is liable to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 10 years, or to both a fine and such imprisonment; ( i i i ) explosion is caused by a negligent act or omission and property or life is endangered, is liable to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years. or to both a fine and such imprisonment; ( d ) section 10(1), (2), (3), (4) or ( S ) , 16 or 28(4) or ( 5 ) is liable to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 15 years; ( e ) section 19 or 28(3) is liable to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 10 years; and cfi section 8(l), 12(1) or (2). 18(1) or (2), 20(1). 21, 26(1) or (2). 27(1) or 28(2)(a), (b), (c) or (d) is liable to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years. or to both a fine and such imprisonment. 20 25 30 35 ( 2 ) A court sentencing a person in terms of subsection (1) may declare- ( a ) any explosives in respect of which the offence was committed to be forfeited to the State and may make any order with regard destruction of the explosives, including an order for payment of the cost of safekeeping and destruction, as the court may deem fit; and to the safekeeping and 40 ( b ) any vehicle or instrument used for the purposes of or in connection with 1.he commission of the offence to be forfeited to the State. (3) Section 35 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 (Act No. 51 of 1977), applies with 45 the necessary changes to any forfeiture and disposal in terms of this section. Declaration of persons as unfit to possess explosives 30. (1) Unless the court determines otherwise, a person becomes unfit to possess explosives if convicted of- ( a ) the unlawful possession of explosives; 50 30 No. 25893 Act No. 15.2003 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE. 8 JANUARY 2004 -- EXPLOSIVES ACT. 2003 Act; 5 involving violence, sexual abuse or dishonesty, for which the any crime or offence involving the unlawful use or handling of explosives, by that person or by another whether explosives were used or handled participant in that crime or offence; an offence involving the failure to store explosives in accordance with the requirements of this an offence involving the negligent handling or loss of explosives while the explosives were in his or her possession; an offence involving the handling of explosives while under the influence of any substance which has an intoxicating or narcotic effect; any other crime or offence in the commission of which explosives were used. 10 whether the explosives were used or handled by that person or by another participant in the crime or offence; any offence accused is sentenced to imprisonment without the option of a fine; any other offence under or in terms of this Act in respect of which the accused 15 is sentenced to imprisonment without the option of a fine; any offence relationship as defined in section 1 of the Domestic Violence Act, 1998 (Act No. 116 of 1998): of alcohol drugs; or abuse any offence involving the any offence involving dealing in drugs; any offence in terms of the Domestic Violence Act, 1998 (Act No. I 16 of 1998), in respect of which the accused is sentenced to imprisonment without the option of a fine; any offence in terms of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000). 25 in respect of which the accused is sentenced to imprisonment without rhe option of a fine; sexual abuse occurring involving physical or in a domestic 20 ( n ) any offence involving sabotage, terrorism, public violence. arson. intimitla- tion. rape, kidnapping or child stealing; or (0) any conspiracy, incitement or attempt to commit an offence referred to above. 30 (2) ( a ) A court which convicts a person of an offence referred to in Schedule 2 and offence contemplated in subsection (I), must enquire and determine which is not an whether that person is unfit to possess explosives. make it must possess (b) If a court. acting in terms of paragraph (a). determines that a person is unfit to to explosives, (4) If a person becomes unfit to possess explosives or is declared unfit to posscss explosives in terms of subsection (1) or (2), as the case may be. the relevant court must notify the Chief Inspector in writing of the person’s unfitness and the notification must be accompanied by an order for the search and seizure of- a declaration that effect. 35 ( a ) all certificates. licences and permits issued to the person in terms of this Act: 10 and (6) all explosives in the person’s possession. Jurisdiction