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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

Part II | Malicious Communications

[Commencement date of Part II: 1 December 2021]

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 Distribution of data message of intimate image

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