Chairperson, the State Attorney Amendment Bill is a step towards the implementation of the department's framework for the transformation of the state legal service, which was developed in 2012 to address some challenges experienced in the sector.
The main objectives of the Bill are as follows: to amend the State Attorney Act so as to provide for the establishment of the Office of the State Attorney; to provide for the appointment of a Solicitor-General and State Attorney; to provide for the powers of the Minister relating to the functions of the Office of the State Attorney; to provide for the powers and functions of the Solicitor-General; and to provide for matters connected therewith.
The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development responded to the amendments proposed in the provinces' negotiating mandates on the Bill. The department's responses were referred back to the provinces for their final mandates. The committee met to record the final mandates of provinces according to which five provinces voted in favour of the Bill. The committee therefore recommends that the Council approve the State Attorney Amendment Bill. Thank you. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
Question put: That the Bill be agreed to.
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
Bill accordingly agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.