Deputy Speaker, all states have a DNA that creates a propensity for the abuse of power, inter alia, through violence. It is therefore significant that South Africa signed the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in 1993 and subsequently ratified it in 1998.
The convention came into force in 1997, calling on state parties to criminalise torture and other forms of violence. It has taken some time for South Africa to create legislation that mirrors the content of the convention and align itself with international law. This is not a good reflection on how the country deals with its international law duties in general.
Be that as it may, government must take note that case law exists that compels our courts to heed international law, especially treaties, even in the absence of enabling legislation. In this regard it needs to be noted that the prohibition on torture is a peremptory norm of international law and can under no circumstances be deviated from.
Die VF Plus steun volkome die implementering van wetgewing teen marteling. Uiteindelik het ons nou wetgewing wat die verpligtinge in terme van die verdrag kodifiseer. Suid-Afrika het vir te lank nie 'n misdryf spesifiek vir marteling gehad nie.
Dit blyk egter dat die wetgewing tekort skiet op 'n sekere vlak. Die wetsontwerp maak nie voorsiening om ook ander degraderende, onmenslike en wrede gedrag, wat nie heeltemaal marteling daarstel, te kriminaliseer nie. Die konvensie vereis dit dan ook spesifiek. In die afwesigheid van die eksplisiete kriminalisering van laasgenoemde gedrag, is dit egter steeds moontlik om te argumenteer dat di gedrag wel outomaties misdrywe daarstel weens die invloed wat internasionale reg op ons regstelsel uitoefen. Dit is egter gerade dat di wetgewing regsekerheid daaroor moet skep.
Die VF Plus is egter tevrede dat die regering nou uiteindelik die reg in lyn gebring het met ons internasionale verpligtinge. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[The FF Plus fully supports the implementation of legislation against torture. At last we now have legislation that codifies the obligations in terms of this convention. For too long, South Africa has had no crime that was linked specifically to torture.
At a certain level it is evident, though, that this legislation falls short. The Bill does not provide for the criminalisation of other degrading, inhuman and cruel acts that torture doesn't quite cover. The convention then also specifically calls for this. Yet in the absence of the explicit criminalisation of the last-mentioned acts it is still possible to argue that, because of the impact of international law on our legal system, such behaviour does automatically establish criminality. It is nevertheless advisable that this legislation should create legal certainty in that regard.
The FF Plus is, however, satisfied that the government is now finally bringing the law into line with our international obligations.]
Thank you, Deputy Speaker.