# Summary

- Link: https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/criminal-law-sexual-offences-and-related-matters-amendment-act-amendment-draft-bill-2020/summary/
- Published: 2020-03-08T13:24:39+02:00
- Author: dearSA

[ CRIMINAL LAW (SEXUAL OFFENCES AND RELATED MATTERS) AMENDMENT ACT AMENDMENT DRAFT BILL, 2020](https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/criminal-law-sexual-offences-and-related-matters-amendment-act-amendment-draft-bill-2020/)

The Department of Justice & Correctional Services has published three new draft 
bills that are set to introduce harsher punishments for criminals in South Africa.

The **[Domestic Violence Amendment Bill](http://pmg-assets.s3-website-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/200228DomesticViolenceAmendmentBill_-_draft.pdf)**,
the **[Criminal Matters Amendment Draft Bill](http://pmg-assets.s3-website-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/200228CriminalMattersAmendmentBill-draft.pdf)**
and the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act **[Amendment Draft Bill](http://pmg-assets.s3-website-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/SXOAAAmendmentBill.pdf)**
are currently out for public comment until 31 March 2020.

Speaking in his **[State of the Nation Address](https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/374160/6-planned-laws-every-south-african-should-know-about-including-harsher-punishment-for-criminals/)**(
Sona) in February, president Cyril Ramaphosa indicated that the government will 
introduce these key pieces of legislation to clamp down on crime in the country.

“We will amend the Domestic Violence Act to better protect victims in violent domestic
relationships and the Sexual Offences Act to broaden the categories of sex offenders
whose names must be included in the National Register for Sex Offenders, and we 
will pass a law to tighten bail and sentencing condition in cases that involve gender-
based violence,” he said.

Some of the most notable changes introduced by the bills include:

 * Further regulating the granting of bail and placement of persons on parole;
 * Regulating sentences in respect of offences that have been committed against 
   vulnerable persons;
 * Further facilitating the obtaining of protection orders against acts of domestic
   violence;
 * Introducing obligations on the Department of Social Development and the Department
   of Health to provide certain services to victims of domestic violence;
 * Broadening the categories of sex offenders whose names must be included in the
   National Register for sex offenders.

**Better policing? **

Alongside these new laws, Ramaphosa said that the South African Police Service (
SAPS) would also establish a Crime Detection University in Hammanskraal, north of
Pretoria, to boost **[policing](https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/374146/south-africa-is-getting-a-special-crime-detection-university-to-boost-policing/)**
in the country.

he said that police visibility, effective training and better resourcing of police
stations are government’s priorities.

“I have prioritised our response to the growing problem of criminal groups that 
extort money from construction and other businesses.

“Specialised units – bringing together SAPS and the National Prosecuting Authority–
are mandated to combat these crimes of economic disruption,” he said

To support the growth of the tourism industry, Ramaphosa said that the SAPS will
increase visibility at identified tourist attraction sites.

The president noted that, following the graduation of 5,000 police trainees last
year, 7,000 new police trainees have been enlisted this year to strengthen local
policing.