President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Bill and the National Prosecuting Authority Amendment Bill into law today in a ceremony at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. According to the Presidency, the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Bill lays the foundation for a multi-sectoral approach to gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in South Africa.This landmark legislation is a critical step forward in ensuring the safety and security of women from all walks of life.
The council will be the statutory body charged with providing strategic leadership in the elimination of gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa.Meanwhile, the National Prosecuting Authority Amendment Bill amends the National Prosecuting Authority Act of 1998 to, among other measures, provide for the establishment of the Investigating 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.Ramaphosa said the two pieces of legislation form part of government’s efforts to strengthen institutions, develop partnerships and build state capacity.
“The first piece of legislation facilitates the establishment of a National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide. This statutory body will coordinate and provide strategic leadership to the fight against GBV and femicide. It will be multi-sectoral, drawing on the expertise of all stakeholders, including civil society, labour, and business,” said Ramaphosa. He said significant progress has been made, since the first Presidential Summit on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, was convened in 2018.
According to Ramaphosa, this led to the development of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-based Violence, together with civil society, as a society-wide response to this national emergency.The Presidency said the signing into law of the National Prosecuting Authority Amendment Bill, will be to establish an Investigating Directorate (ID) against Corruption as a permanent entity within the NPA. “The Investigating Directorate against Corruption will be a permanent, prosecution-led agency with full criminal investigative powers.This legislation will help to overcome challenges with capacity and expertise within the NPA to investigate and prosecute complex corruption cases. The Investigating Directorate against Corruption will be able to recruit and retain specialist skills to deliver on its mandate. Permanent criminal investigators will be appointed, with full police powers,” added Ramaphosa.Ramaphosa highlighted that the signing of these two acts signalled the government determination to continue to build an ethical, capable state with strong institutions that can deliver on their mandate of improving the lives of every South African. He called on all stakeholders, in government, in business, in labour and across civil society to support the effort to make these two new entities a success.
