Justice and Correctional Services deputy minister John Jeffrey says the department is looking at tightening the Sexual Offences Act.
This follows a two day national forum on implementation of the Act hosted by the department and the National Prosecuting authority (NPA).
Jeffrey says there is a need to evaluate and amend the Act, especially regarding assessment of the competency of children to testify in court.
Briefing the media in Pretoria, Jeffrey added that there’s also a need to expand the state’s capacity to appeal cases on matters of fact.
“The states right to appeal in terms of fact is more important. Currently once a person is acquitted on matters of fact the state cant appeal, that’s not the case in many countries around the world so I think that definitely something we can consider,” says Jeffrey.
