Ramaphosa to sign two more bills into law this week
President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to sign two new bills into law in a ceremony at the Union Buildings on Friday, 24 May.
The Presidency said that Ramaphosa will sign the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Bill and the National Prosecuting Authority Amendment Bill.
The National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Bill, first introduced in 2022, is a legislative proposal aimed at addressing the high rates of gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide.
According to the Presidency, the bill is a “critical step forward in ensuring the safety and security of women from all walks of life”.
The bill seeks to establish a national council dedicated to combating these issues, tasked with coordinating efforts across various sectors, including government, civil society, and law enforcement, to prevent and respond to GBV and femicide.
“The establishment of a council dedicated to drive a whole-of-society approach to combat this scourge is fundamental,” said the Presidency.
“The council will be the statutory body charged with providing strategic leadership in the elimination of gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa,” it added.
Additionally, the bill outlines that it aims to provide support and resources for survivors of GBV, enhance accountability for perpetrators, and promote gender equality.
The National Prosecuting Authority Amendment Bill, first introduced in 2023, paves the way, among others, for the provision of the establishment of the Investigative Directorate against Corruption.
“The Directorate, which will over time incorporate the existing Investigating Directorate, will have investigative capacity with priority given to particularly serious criminal or unlawful conduct committed in serious, high-profile or complex corruption, commercial or financial crime,” said the Presidency.
According to the bill, it is designed to amend the National Prosecuting Authority Act of 1998. This bill seeks to strengthen the functioning and independence of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), which is responsible for prosecuting criminal cases on behalf of the state.
“The legislation directs that the Directorate be given the infrastructure and resources needed to perform its functions,” said the Presidency.
Additionally, the bill outlines that it aims to reinforce the NPA’s ability to combat corruption and ensure that it operates in accordance with constitutional principles and international best practices.
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