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The constitutional rights of children and the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998


J.Y. Nel

Abstract

The Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998 [POCA] embodies a serious attempt by the South African government to effectively police and curb organised crime, money laundering and criminal gang activities in South Africa. The Act provides inter alia for a range of crippling fines and for orders such as confiscation and forfeiture. Asset forfeiture and confiscation orders can affect the rights of third parties directly and indirectly in a number of ways. Young persons and children can be affected indirectly because asset forfeiture and confiscation orders may violate the right to parental care of the dependent young persons and children of the person who is subject to the order. This brief article will investigate aspects of the protection afforded to the rights of children when such orders are made in terms of the provisions of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.

Die konstitusionele regte van kinders en die Wet op die Voorkoming van Georganiseerde Misdaad 121 van 1998

Die Wet op die Voorkoming van Georganiseerde Misdaad 121 van 1998 vorm deel van die Suid-Afrikaanse regering se program om georganiseerde misdaad, geldwas en die aktitwiteite van kriminele bendes te polisieer en te beperk. Die Wet maak onder andere voorsiening vir besondere hoe boetes sowel as konfiskasie- en verbeurdverklaringsbevele. Sodanige bevele kan die regte van derde partye op velerlei wyses, direk en indirek, beinvloed. Konfiskasie- en verbeurdverklarings bevele kan die posisie van kinders beinvloed omdat die bevele die konstitusionele regte van afhanklike kinders moontlik kan skend. Hierdie kort artikel ondersoek aspekte van die beskerming van die regte van kinders wanneer konfiskasie- en verbeurdverklaringsbevele ingevolge die Wet gemaak word.


(Journal for Juridical Science: 2003 28(1): 97-119)

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eISSN: 0258-252X
print ISSN: 0258-252X