At the beginning of March the Department of Justice circulated a ‘draft bill’ which appears to provide the framework for intended amendments to Section 49 of the Criminal Procedure Act, the law dealing with the use of lethal force. The legal provision in question has always been a controversial one understandably so since it provides the police, and indeed members of the public, with the power to kill under the authority of law.

 

This seminar is intended for those who are interested in better understanding the debate relating to Section 49 including members of civil society organisations, journalists and SAPS members and will be of particular relevance to people or organisations who wish to make submissions on the draft bill in its current form or when it is presented to Parliament. It will involve a brief review of a series of issues to do with the use of lethal force in policing and legal standards pertaining thereto.

 

The seminar will involve a presentation by David Bruce who is a Senior Research Specialist at the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation. He is the author of several reports and newspaper and journal articles on the use of lethal force in policing and on Section 49.   A respondent to the presentation is still to be confirmed.

 

Venue:  CSVR Boardroom, 4th Floor Braamfontein Centre, 23 Jorissen street (cnr Bertha), Bramfontein, Johannesburg.