JOHANNESBURG -
More than 150 000 people have criminal records over Covid-19 regulation breaches alone – though this figure, according to the deputy minister, could be higher. “The issue is simply around the criminal records for admission of guilt fines,” he said. He said amendments to the Criminal Procedure Act would ensure that the minister is able to revisit the categories of crimes for admission of guilt so that people don’t get criminal records. The proposed changes on expungements would be put through the Cabinet process for lawmakers to consider admission of guilt fines so that the penalties are not as harsh, especially for young people.
“There is an attempt to digitise the expungement process to make it a lot easier than the current process. “While our approach is specific to South Africa, the issues being addressed in Africa are similar: we also want to ensure petty offences are decriminalised so people, particularly young people, don’t end up with criminal records that would penalise them, which means they won’t get jobs, etc,” he said.
He said once the paperwork had been finalised, Minister of Justice Ronald Lamola would announce details of categories for expungement.Legal counsellor at the Helen Suzman Foundation Anton van Dalsen said it made no sense for admission of guilt fines in respect of minor transgressions to lead to criminal records.
This is the start
Someone is beginning to think up there. You can't have a life long criminal record for something you paid a fine for and which you have probably forgotten. Some ple are unemployed as a result of this lack of thinking.
MARIUSBROODRYK FM