http://ipkitten.blogspot.com/2024/03/long-walk-to-copyright-reform-8-south.html
The (second) passing of the CAB and PPAB was to address the reservations expressed by the South African President in 2020. Readers who have been following the Long walk series will remember that the President’s reservations related to issues around constitutionality of the two bills. Such readers would also recall that in 2021, the National Assembly rescinded its previous decision to pass the Copyright Amendment Bill and the Bill referred back to the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry for further consideration. In this regard, the National Assembly restricted the further consideration of the CAB to the issues around the reservations raised by the President.
To address the reservations expressed by the President, the National Assembly re-tagged the CAB (and the PPAB) as section 76 Bills (i.e., bills that affect cultural matters and trade). Public hearings were held and the amendments in the Bills were advertised for public comments and deliberations held on the comments received from the public.
With all that done, the CAB (and the PPAB) are now before the President for his action. Whether the President will assent to the Bills or refer the Bills to the Constitutional Court for a decision, before the general elections in South Africa in May 2024 is anybody’s guess. By virtue of section 79 of the South African Constitution, the President must decide whether the Bills fully accommodates his reservations and if they do, he must assent to and sign them. Otherwise, he must refer the Bills to the Constitutional Court for a decision on their constitutionality.
Stay tuned…
Follow the long walk:
Long Walk to Copyright Reform #1
Long Walk to Copyright Reform #2
Long Walk to Copyright Reform #3
Long Walk to Copyright Reform #4
Long Walk to Copyright Reform #5A
Long Walk to Copyright Reform #5B
Long Walk to Copyright Reform #6
Long Walk to Copyright Reform #7
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