Parliament, Saturday, 16 September 2023 – The Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services today called on all stakeholders and interested parties for written comment on the Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communicated-related Information (RICA) Amendment Bill.
Committee Chairperson, Mr Bulelani Magwanishe, said the purpose of the RICA Amendment Bill is to amend the RICA Act, 2002, so as to insert certain definitions to provide for the designation of an independent designated judge, to provide for the designation of an independent review judge, to provide for the powers and functions of the review judge and to provide for the tenure of designated and review judges.
It further aims to provide for adequate safeguards where the subject of surveillance is a journalist or practising lawyer, to provide for post-surveillance notification, to provide for adequate safeguards to address the fact that interception directions are sought and obtained ex parte and to provide for adequate procedures to ensure that data obtained pursuant to the interception of communications is managed lawfully and not used or interfered with unlawfully.
The Bill seeks to provide for procedures to be followed for processing, examining, copying, sharing, disclosing, sorting through, using, storing or destroying of any data and to provide for principles for the safeguarding of data when dealing with the management of data.
Submissions must be received by no later than 6 October 2023. Please indicate your interest in making a verbal presentation. Enquiries must be directed to Mr V Ramaano. Submissions must be emailed to Ricabill@parliament.gov.za. Copies of the Bill may be obtained from Mr V Ramaano, Cell 083 709 8427 or www.parliament.gov.za
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON JUSTICE AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR BULELANI MAGWANISHE.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Rajaa Azzakani (Ms)
Tel: 021 403 8437
Cell: 081 703 9542
E-mail: razzakani@parliament.gov.za
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