Taking of evidence - national procedures for ICC proceedings

Republic of South Africa

Implementation of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (Act No. 27 of 2002)

Chapter 4
Cooperation with and assistence to Court in or outside South Africa

Part 2
Judicial assistance to court (ss 14-32)

14 Areas of cooperation and judicial assistance

The relevant competent authorities in the Republic must, subject to the domestic law of the Republic and the Statute, cooperate with, and render assistance to, the Court in relation to investigations and prosecutions in the following areas:

(b) the taking of evidence, including testimony under oath, and the production of evidence, including expert opinions and reports necessary to the Court

Chapter 4
Cooperation with and assistence to Court in or outside South Africa

Part 2
Judicial assistance to court (ss 14-32)

15 Request for assistance in obtaining evidence

(1) A request by the Court for assistance in obtaining evidence in the Republic for use in the Court must be submitted in writing to the Central Authority.

(2) Upon receipt of such request the Central Authority must satisfy itself that-

(a) proceedings have been instituted in the Court; or

(b) there are reasonable grounds for believing that a crime has been committed within the jurisdiction of the Court; or

(c) an investigation in respect thereof is being conducted by the Prosecutor of the Court.

(3) For purposes of subsection (2), the Central Authority may rely on a certificate purporting to have been issued by a judge of the Court or the Prosecutor of the Court, confirming one or more of the requirements referred to in subsection (2).

(4) If the Central Authority is satisfied that one or more of the requirements as contemplated in subsection (2) have been complied with, it must submit the request contemplated in subsection (1) to the magistrate within whose area of jurisdiction the witness resides or is believed to be present, as well as to the National Director.

Rome Statute

Article 93 Other forms of cooperation

1. States Parties shall, in accordance with the provisions of this Part and under procedures of national law, comply with requests by the Court to provide the following assistance in relation to investigations or prosecutions:

(b) The taking of evidence, including testimony under oath, and the production of evidence, including expert opinions and reports necessary to the Court;