Cybercrimes Act, 2020 · Section 51
Requesting Assistance From a Foreign State
Section 51 provides for a direction requesting mutual assistance from a foreign State.
What the section does
Section 51 provides the mechanism for issuing a direction requesting assistance from another country in a cybercrime investigation or proceeding covered by the Act.
Key points
- The request operates through the statutory mutual-assistance framework.
- The direction must comply with the form and requirements prescribed by the Act and regulations.
- This mechanism allows South African investigations to seek lawful assistance beyond the country's borders.
What this means in practice
A South African investigation may need information or evidence held overseas; section 51 provides part of the legal route for seeking it.
Important
This page is an educational explanation of the Cybercrimes Act. It is not legal advice and does not replace the Act, regulations, court decisions or advice from a qualified legal professional.
Official source
Read the official Cybercrimes Act from the South African Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.
Cybercrimes Act, 2020 — official PDF