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Cybercrimes Act

Cybercrimes Act

The full text of the Cybercrimes Act in South Africa

  • ACT Summary and Preamble
  • Chapter 1 | Definitions and interpretation
    • Section 1 | Definitions and interpretation
  • Chapter 2 | Cybercrimes
    • Part I | Cybercrimes
      • Section 2 | Unlawful access
      • Section 3 | Unlawful interception of data
      • Section 4 | Unlawful acts in respect of software or hardware tool
      • Section 5 | Unlawful interference with data or computer program
      • Section 6 | Unlawful interference with computer data storage medium or computer system
      • Section 7 | Unlawful acquisition, possession, provision, receipt or use of password, access code or similar data or device
      • Section 8 | Cyber fraud
      • Section 9 | Cyber forgery and uttering
      • Section 10 | Cyber extortion
      • Section 11 | Aggravated offences
      • Section 12 | Theft of incorporeal property
    • Part II | Malicious Communications
      • Section 13 | Definitions
      • Section 14 | Data message which incites damage to property or violence
      • Section 15 | Data message which threatens persons with damage to property or violence
      • Section 16 | Disclosure of data message of intimate image
    • Part III | Attempting, Conspiring, Aiding, Abetting, Inducing, Inciting, Instigating, Instructing, Commanding or Procuring to Commit Offence
      • Section 17 | Attempting, conspiring, aiding, abetting, inducing, inciting, instigating, instructing, commanding or procuring to commit offence
    • Part IV | Competent Verdicts
      • Section 18 | Competent verdicts
    • Part V | Sentencing
      • Section 19 | Sentencing
    • Part VI | Order to Protect Complainants from the Harmful Effect of Malicious Communications
      • Section 20 | Order to protect complainant pending finalisation of criminal proceedings
      • Section 21 | Electronic communications service provider to furnish particulars to court
      • Section 22 | Orders on finalisation of criminal proceedings
      • Section 23 | Penalties
  • Chapter 3 | Jurisdiction
    • Section 24 | Jurisdiction
  • Chapter 4 | Powers to Investigate, Search, Access or Seize
    • Section 25 | Definitions
    • Section 26 | Standard Operating Procedures
    • Section 27 | Application of Criminal Procedure Act, 1977
    • Section 28 | Search for, access to, or seizure of certain articles
    • Section 29 | Article to be searched for, accessed or seized under search warrant
    • Section 30 | Oral application for search warrant or amendment of warrant
    • Section 31 | Search for, access to, or seizure of article without search warrant with consent of person who has lawful authority to consent
    • Section 32 | Search for, access to, or seizure of article involved in the commission of an offence without search warrant
    • Section 33 | Search for, access to, or seizure of article on arrest of person
    • Section 34 | Assisting police official or investigator
    • Section 35 | Obstructing or hindering police official or investigator and authority to overcome resistance
    • Section 36 | Powers conferred upon police official or investigator to be conducted in decent and orderly manner with due regard to rights of other persons
    • Section 37 | Wrongful search, access or seizure and restriction on use of instrument, device, password or decryption key or information to gain access
    • Section 38 | False information under oath or by way of affirmation
    • Section 39 | Prohibition on disclosure of information
    • Section 40 | Interception of indirect communication, obtaining of real-time communication related information and archived communication-related information
    • Section 41 | Expedited preservation of data direction
    • Section 42 | Preservation of evidence direction
    • Section 43 | Oral application for preservation of evidence direction
    • Section 44 | Disclosure of data direction and search for, access to and seizure of articles subject to preservation
    • Section 45 | Obtaining and using publicly available data or receiving data from person who is in possession of data
  • Chapter 5 | Mutual Assistance
    • Section 46 | Application of provisions of Chapter
    • Section 47 | Spontaneous information
    • Section 48 | Foreign requests for assistance and cooperation
    • Section 49 | Complying with order of designated judge
    • Section 50 | Informing foreign State of outcome of request for mutual assistance and expedited disclosure of traffic data
    • Section 51 | Issuing of direction requesting assistance from foreign State
  • Chapter 6 | Designated Point of Contact
    • Section 52 | Establishment and functions of designated point of contact
  • Chapter 7 | Evidence
    • Section 53 | Proof of certain facts by affidavit
  • Chapter 8 | Reporting Obligations and Capacity Building
    • Section 54 | Obligations of electronic communications service providers and financial institutions
    • Section 55 | Capacity detect, prevent and investigate cybercrimes
    • Section 56 | National Director of Public Prosecutions must keep Statistics of Prosecutions
  • Chapter 9 | General Provisions
    • Section 57 National Executive may enter into agreements
    • Section 58 | Repeal or amendment of laws
    • Section 59 | Regulations
    • Section 60 | Short title and commencement

Chapter 1 | Definitions and interpretation

[Commencement date of Chapter 1: 1 December 2021]

Section 1 Definitions and interpretation

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