- Law Library Home
- About the Law Library
- Find Legal Resources
- Research Help
- Research & Educational Opportunities
- News & Events
- Visiting the Law Library
- Contact Us
Related Resources at the Library
The Global Legal Monitor is an online publication from the Law Library of Congress covering legal news and developments worldwide. It is updated frequently and draws on information from the Global Legal Information Network, official national legal publications, and reliable press sources. You can search previous news by searching the archive.
South Africa: Criminal Procedure - Law to Expunge Criminal Records for Breaking Apartheid Laws
To link to this article, copy this persistent link:
http://www.loc.gov/lawweb/servlet/lloc_news?disp3_491_text
(Jul. 02, 2008) A new bill, the criminal procedure amendment bill, was recently proposed in the Parliament of South Africa. It seeks to expunge criminal records for violations of laws based on race or that created offenses with a view to promoting the policy of apartheid before the 1993 South African Constitution took effect. These include laws that prevented people from living in certain areas, using certain facilities, and having relations across the color line. Criminal records for violation of such laws, much like those for violations of other, legitimate laws, are said to have been obstacles for many people in obtaining travel visas and securing employment, for which a clean criminal record is a requirement.
The bill falls short of addressing similar problems that former liberation fighters face due to their involvement in the armed struggle against apartheid and their belonging to organizations that either opposed the truth and reconciliation process or that made a blanket submission to that process as did the African National Congress. (RSA: Proposed New Law to Expunge Petty Apartheid-Era Offenses' Criminal Records, AFP, June 18, 2008, Open Source Center No. AFP20080618509009.)
- Author: Hanibal Goitom
- Topic: Criminal Procedure More on this topic
- Jurisdiction: South Africa More about this jurisdiction
Search Legal News Archives |
RSS |
Last updated: 07/02/2008