Department of Social Development
Regulations made under Probation Services Act 116 of 1991 have been amended.
The amendments can be found in notice 66 of Government Gazette 34983 dated 3 February 2012 and are immediately effective.
They are the first to have been made to the regulations published on 5 August 1994 in notice R3164 of Government Gazette 15895.
Regulation 2 (requirements for appointment as a probation officer) has been replaced with the following:
“No person shall be appointed as a probation officer unless he or she is a social worker in the employ of the state, a welfare organisation or a non-profit organisation and is registered as a social worker with the South African Council for Social Service Professions”.
In addition, a sub-clause has been added to regulation 3 (quorum for and procedures at meetings of committees) entitled ‘constitution and functioning of information classes’.
This requires that:
• information classes “regarding (the) causes of criminal tendencies and deviate behaviour” should be provided “by probation officers and … persons appointed by the minister who have knowledge or experience in the management of substance abuse, victim empowerment, family preservation and education”;
• compliance and non-compliance with court orders for persons to attend these classes should be monitored; and that
• specific information classes should take place at pre-determined and pre-planned intervals.
The amendments also establish a probation advisory committee, providing for its constitution and meetings.
Sabinet Cape Town Office
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