CHAPTER 41
INQUIRIES ACT

Arrangement of Sections

   Section

   1.   Short title

   2.   Power to issue commissions

   3.   Amendment or revocation of commission

   4.   Power to appoint fresh commissioners

   5.   Duty of commissioners

   6.   Commissioner to take oath or make affirmation

   7.   Immunity from suit of commissioner

   8.   Exercise of powers

   9.   Appointment and functions of secretary

   10.   Employment of experts and assistants

   11.   Interpreter

   12.   Appearance of legal practitioners and other persons

   13.   Regulation of proceedings

   14.   Powers of commissioners

   15.   Evidence may be taken by commission

   16.   Power to cause investigation to be made before issuing a commission

   17.   Offences

   18.   Payment of fees, remuneration or expenses

      FIRST SCHEDULE

      SECOND SCHEDULE

AN ACT

to provide for the issue of commissions and for the appointment of commissioners to inquire into and report on matters referred to them; to prescribe their functions; and to provide for matters incidental to or connected with the foregoing

[21st July, 1967]

Act 45 of 1967,

Act 13 of 1994.

1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Inquiries Act.

2. Power to issue commissions

   (1) The President may issue a commission appointing one or more commissioners to inquire into any matter in which an inquiry would, in the opinion of the President, be for the public welfare.

   (2) Every commission shall specify the subject, nature and extent of the inquiry concerned, and may contain directions generally for the carrying out of the inquiry and in particular may contain directions as to the following matters:

      (a)   the manner in which the commission is to be executed;

      (b)   the appointment of a chairman;

      (c)   the constitution of a quorum;

      (d)   the place and time where and within which the inquiry shall be made and the report thereof rendered;

      (e)   whether or not the proceedings shall, in whole or in part, be held in public.

   (3) In the absence of a direction to the contrary in the commission concerned, an inquiry shall be held in public, but the commissioners shall nevertheless be entitled to exclude the representatives of the press or any or all other persons if they consider it necessary so to do for the preservation of order, for the due conduct of the inquiry or for any other reason.

   (4) Every commission shall be published in the Gazette by statutory instrument.

3. Amendment or revocation of commission