The Bill provides for access to justice and the realisation of the right of a person to have legal representation, as envisaged in the Constitution, and to render or make legal aid and legal advice available, for the purpose of establishing an entity called Legal Aid SA with a board of directors and to define its objects, powers, functions, duties and composition; to provide for the independence and impartiality of Legal Aid SA; to provide for the appointment of a board of directors and qualifications for membership thereof; to provide for the appointment of a chairperson and a deputy chairperson; to provide for the term of appointment of a member of the board of directors; to provide for the termination of membership of the board of directors; to provide for meetings of the board of directors, quorum and procedure; to provide for the establishment of committees by the board of directors; to provide for the delegation of powers and the assignment of duties or functions of the board of directors; to provide for the appointment of a chief executive officer and his or her functions; to provide for the appointment of employees and the designation of certain officials as agents of Legal Aid SA and their terms and conditions of employment; to provide for the protection of client privilege in certain circumstances; to provide for the recovery of costs by Legal Aid SA; to provide for the finances of Legal Aid SA; to provide for the provision of legal aid by direction of courts in criminal matters and to provide for making regulations and the manual.
Quite evidently, this Bill provides for the availability of legal representation in South Africa for all South African citizens so that nobody finds himself or herself going to court without it.