Precious Metals Act, 2005

Jurisdiction
South Africa
Citation
Act 37 of 2005
Date
21 April 2006
Language
English
Type
Legislation
Download
Download PDF (565.8 KB)
Taxonomies
South Africa

Precious Metals Act, 2005

Act 37 of 2005

(English text signed by the President.)ACTTo provide for the acquisition, possession, smelting, refining, beneficiation, use and disposal of precious metals; and to provide for matters connected therewith.BE IT ENACTED by the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, as follows:—

1. Definitions

In this Act, unless the context indicates otherwise—“authorised dealer” means a person authorised by the National Treasury to deal in gold;“jeweller’s permit” means a permit contemplated in section 9(1);“Minister” means the Minister of Minerals and Energy;“minted bar” means a minted bar contemplated in section 23(1)(e);“National Commissioner” means the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service or any person designated by that Commissioner;“precious metal” means—(a)the metal gold, any metal of the platinum group and the ores of such metals; and(b)any other metal that the Minister has declared by notice in the Gazette to be a precious metal for the purposes of this Act, and the ores of any such metal;“precious metal beneficiation licence” means a licence contemplated in section 8(1);“prescribed” means prescribed by regulation made in terms of section 23;“producer” means any person who holds a permit or right to prospect for or mine precious metals in terms of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 (Act No. 28 of 2002);“refined precious metal” means precious metal that has been refined to or beyond 99,9% purity;“refining licence” means a licence contemplated in section 7(1);“Regulator” means the South African Diamond and Precious Metals Regulator established by section 3(1) of the Diamonds Act, 1986 (Act No. 56 of 1986);“semi-fabricated precious metal” means refined precious metal that is in the form of sheet, tube, wire, granule, plate, strip, rod, or sponge (including carat gold alloys as prescribed), or such other refined precious metal as may be prescribed;“this Act” includes any regulation made in terms of section 23;“unwrought precious metal” means—(a)precious metal that—(i)is unrefined (including concentrate and matte), or has been refined to a purity less than 99,9% and has not undergone any manufacturing process other than being refined or formed into a bar (but not a minted bar), an ingot, a button, plate, sponge, powder, granules, (excluding granules made from precious metal that has been refined to or beyond 99,9% purity, and carat gold alloys), solution; or(ii)is prescribed as any substance, material or product of similar form to any such substance, material or product listed in paragraph (a)(i); or(b)any article or substance containing or consisting of precious metal contemplated in paragraph (a),but does not include any article that is of archaeological interest or that has been processed or manufactured for one or more specific industrial, professional or artistic uses.

2. Objects of Regulator

The objects of the Regulator are to—
(a)ensure that the precious metal resources of the Republic are exploited and developed in the best interest of the people of South Africa;
(b)promote equitable access to, and local beneficiation of, the Republic’s precious metals;
(c)promote the sound development of precious metal enterprises in the Republic; and
(d)advance the objectives of the broad-based socio-economic empowerment as prescribed.

3. Functions of Regulator

(1)The Regulator shall—
(a)implement, administer and control all matters relating to acquisition, possession, smelting, refining, fabrication, use and disposal of precious metals;
(b)advise the Minister on any matter to which this Act relates referred to it by the Minister; and
(c)in general perform such acts as may be necessary or expedient for the achievement of its objects.
(2)The Regulator may—
(a)enter into an agreement with any person, including the State, for the performance of any particular act or particular work or the rendering of any particular services;
(b)from time to time make recommendations to the Minister on any matter to which this Act relates; and
(c)appoint any person in its service as an Inspector to perform the prescribed functions of Inspectors.

4. Prohibitions relating to acquisition, possession or disposal of unwrought precious metal

(1)Save as is otherwise provided in this Act, no person may acquire, possess or dispose of, either as principal or as agent, any unwrought precious metal, unless—
(a)he or she is the holder of a refining licence and acts in accordance with the terms and conditions of his or her licence;
(b)he or she is an authorised dealer;
(c)he or she is a producer who has won or recovered such unwrought precious metal;
(d)he or she has obtained a certificate from the Regulator authorising him or her to acquire or to dispose of such unwrought precious metal;
(e)such unwrought precious metal does not exceed a prescribed mass and is acquired in accordance with a special permit issued by the Regulator for scientific or beneficiation purposes or to make jewellery; or
(f)he or she is the holder of a precious metal beneficiation licence and acts in accordance with the terms and conditions of his or her licence;
(2)The Regulator may only issue a certificate contemplated in subsection (1)(d) to a person in consultation with the National Treasury, in the case of gold, and the National Commissioner.
(3)No person may have in his or her possession any unwrought precious metal unless he or she is—
(a)a person contemplated in subsection (1); or
(b)in possession of such precious metal in fulfilment of a contract of employment with any person contemplated in subsection (1).
(4)No person may deliver unwrought precious metal in payment of any debt owed by him or her or any other person or in consideration of any service rendered or to be rendered to him or her or any other person.
(5)Only a person contemplated in subsection (1)(a), (c),(e) or (f) may make up, smelt or change the form of any unwrought precious metal in his or her possession in terms of that subsection.

5. Prohibitions relating to acquisition, possession or disposal of semi-fabricated precious metal

(1)Save as is otherwise provided for in this Act, no person may acquire, possess or dispose of, either as principal or as agent, any semi-fabricated precious metal, unless—
(a)he or she is the holder of a refining licence and acts in accordance with the terms and conditions of his or her licence;
(b)he or she is an authorised dealer;
(c)he or she is a producer who has won or recovered the unwrought precious metal which has been refined and made into such semi-fabricated precious metal;
(d)he or she has obtained a certificate from the Regulator authorising him or her to acquire or to dispose of such semi-fabricated precious metal;
(e)such semi-fabricated precious metal does not exceed a prescribed mass and is acquired in accordance with a special permit issued by the Regulator for scientific purposes;
(f)he or she holds a precious metals beneficiation licence; or
(g)he or she holds a jeweller’s permit.
(2)No person may have in his or her possession any semi-fabricated precious metal unless he or she is—
(a)a person contemplated in subsection (1); or
(b)in possession of such precious metal in fulfilment of a contract of employment with any person contemplated in subsection (1).

6. Consideration of applications and principles of administrative justice

(1)In considering an application for any licence, permit or certificate the Regulator—
(a)must have regard to the promotion of equitable access to and the orderly local beneficiation of precious metal;
(b)must have regard to the requirements of the broad-based socio-economic empowerment Charter developed in terms of section 100 of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 (Act No. 28 of 2002); and
(c)may conduct such investigation regarding the application as it may deem fit
(2)Any administrative process conducted or decision taken in terms of this Act must be conducted or taken in accordance with the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, 2000 (Act No. 3 of 2000), unless otherwise provided for in this Act.

7. Issue and renewal of refining licences

(1)The Regulator may, after consultation with the National Treasury, in the case of gold, and the National Commissioner, issue to any person, in the prescribed form and for a period not exceeding 30 years, a refining licence entitling the holder to do such of the following, as may be specified in the licence, namely—
(a)to buy or receive unwrought precious metal in any form from the South African Mint or any person contemplated in section 2(1);
(b)to buy or receive semi-fabricated precious metal from the South African Mint or any person contemplated in section 3(1);
(c)to smelt, refine or change the form of unwrought precious metal in his or her lawful possession and thereafter to dispose of such precious metal—
(i)in accordance with the terms and conditions of his or her licence and the provisions of this Act to the South African Mint or any person contemplated in section 4(1)(a), (b), (d), (e) or (f); or
(ii)in semi-fabricated form to any person contemplated in section 5(1) (a), (b), (d), (e), (f) or (g);
(d)to extract precious metal from any material, substance or solution in his or her lawful possession and to dispose of such precious metal in accordance with the terms and conditions of his or her licence and the provisions of this Act;
(e)to buy or receive from the holder of a refining licence or a precious metal beneficiation licence, an authorised dealer or a producer, any material, substance or solution in the lawful possession of that holder, authorised dealer or producer containing precious metal and to extract from such material, substance or solution precious metal and to dispose of the precious metal in accordance with the terms and conditions of his or her licence and the provisions of this Act; or
(f)to import any unwrought or semi-fabricated precious metal into the Republic subject to the terms and conditions of his or her licence.
(2)Any person who is refused a refining licence may, within 30 days after having been notified by the Regulator of the refusal, appeal in the prescribed manner to the Minister who may—
(a)dismiss the appeal;
(b)direct the Regulator to issue such a licence to that person, subject to the succeeding provisions of this section; or
(c)make any other order he or she deems fit.
(3)Before the Regulator issues a refining licence the applicant for the licence must pay the prescribed fee.
(4)A refining licence terminates in accordance with the terms and conditions under which it was issued.
(5)The holder of a refining licence may not carry on any activity authorised by the licence elsewhere than on the premises or at the place described on the licence or described in any endorsement of that licence in terms of subsection (6), and the holder may not be in possession of unwrought precious metal at any place elsewhere than on the premises or at the place so described unless he or she is transporting such unwrought precious metal in accordance with section 11.
(6)
(a)If at any time it becomes necessary for the holder of a refining licence to transfer or extend the activities contemplated in subsection (5) to any premises or place not described on his or her licence the Regulator, after consultation contemplated in subsection (1), may endorse on the licence the situation of such new or additional premises or place and must forthwith in writing notify the National Treasury and the National Commissioner, as the case may be, of the endorsement.
(b)An endorsement contemplated in paragraph (a) does not allow the holder of the refining licence to conduct business from the additional premises or place under a name that differs from the name used on the existing premises or place.
(c)If the holder of the refining licence wishes to conduct business from any other premises or place under a name that differs from the name used on the existing premises or place, he or she must apply for a new licence in respect of the additional premises or place.
(7)
(a)The Regulator, after consultation contemplated in subsection (1), may renew a refining licence for further periods of up to 30 years each upon payment of the prescribed fee if an application for such renewal is made at least 30 days before the expiration of the licence.
(b)Subsection (2) applies with the necessary changes in connection with the refusal by the Regulator of any application in terms of paragraph (a).
(8)Whenever—
(a)any application under subsection (7) for the renewal of a refining licence is refused by the Regulator and no review of or appeal against such refusal is lodged or any review or appeal so lodged is dismissed;
(b)any refining licence has expired and no application for its renewal has been made by the holder thereof;
(c)any refining licence has been cancelled under this Act; or
(d)the activities authorised by such licence are discontinued permanently, the person who held the licence must forthwith submit to the Regulator a solemn declaration of the mass of any unwrought precious metal in his or her possession at the date such licence expired or was refused or cancelled or such activities were discontinued, and must dispose of such precious metal in accordance with this Act within 30 days after the date of such declaration or within such longer period as the Regulator may allow.
(9)The holder of a refining licence issued in terms of this section must forthwith and in writing advise the Regulator of any unlawful conduct relating to precious metals in which he was asked or approached to participate or which he was asked to facilitate.

8. Issue and renewal of precious metal beneficiation licence

(1)The Regulator may issue to any person, in the prescribed form and for a period not exceeding 10 years, a precious metal beneficiation licence entitling the holder to do such of the following, as may be specified in the licence, namely—
(a)to buy or receive unwrought or semi-fabricated precious metal in any form from any person authorised under this Act to sell, deal in or dispose of unwrought or semi-fabricated precious metal;
(b)to make up, change the form or add value in any other manner to any unwrought or semi-fabricated precious metal in his or her lawful possession;or
(c)to dispose of any unwrought or semi-fabricated precious metal in his or her lawful possession.
(2)Any person who is refused a precious metal beneficiation licence may, within 30 days after having been notified by the Regulator of the refusal, appeal in the prescribed manner to the Minister who may—
(a)dismiss the appeal;
(b)direct the Regulator to issue such a licence to that person, subject to the succeeding provisions of this section; or
(c)make any other order he or she deems fit.
(3)Before the Regulator issues a precious metal beneficiation licence the applicant for the licence must pay the prescribed fee.
(4)The holder of a precious metal beneficiation licence must keep proper books of account in accordance with generally accepted accounting practice and must submit such information as may be prescribed to the Regulator annually by not later than 90 days after the end of his or her business’ financial year.
(5)A precious metal beneficiation licence terminates in accordance with the terms and conditions under which it was issued.
(6)The holder of a precious metal beneficiation licence may not carry on any activity authorised by the licence elsewhere than on the premises or at the place described on the licence or described in any endorsement of that licence in terms of subsection (7), and the holder may not be in possession of unwrought or semi-fabricated precious metal at any place elsewhere than on the premises or at the place so described unless he or she is transporting such unwrought or semi-fabricated precious metal in accordance with section 13.
(7)
(a)If at any time it becomes necessary for the holder of a precious metal beneficiation licence to transfer or extend the activities referred to in subsection (6) to any premises or place not described on his or her licence the Regulator may endorse on the licence the situation of such new or additional premises or place and must forthwith in writing notify the National Commissioner
(b)An endorsement contemplated in paragraph (a) does not allow the holder of the precious metal beneficiation licence to conduct business from the additional premises or place under a name that differs from the name used on the existing premises or place.
(c)If the holder of the precious metal beneficiation licence wishes to conduct business from any other premises or place under a name that differs from the name used on the existing premises or place, he or she must apply for a new licence in respect of the additional premises or place.
(8)
(a)The Regulator may renew a precious metal beneficiation licence for further periods not exceeding 10 years each upon payment of the prescribed fee if an application for such renewal is made at least 30 days before the expiration of the licence.
(b)Subsection (2) applies with the necessary changes in connection with the refusal by the Regulator of any application in terms of paragraph (a).
(9)Whenever—
(a)any application under subsection (7) for the renewal of a refining licence is refused by the Regulator and no review of or appeal against such refusal is lodged or any review or appeal so lodged is dismissed;
(b)any refining licence has expired and no application for its renewal has been made by the holder thereof;
(c)any refining licence has been cancelled under this Act; or
(d)the activities authorised by such licence are discontinued permanently, the person who held the licence must forthwith submit to the Regulator a solemn declaration of the mass of any unwrought precious metal in his or her possession at the date such licence expired or was refused or cancelled or such activities were discontinued, and must dispose of such unwrought precious metal in accordance with this Act within 30 days after the date of such declaration or within such longer period as the Regulator may allow.
(10)The holder of a precious metal beneficiation licence issued in terms of this section must forthwith and in writing advise the Regulator of any unlawful conduct relating to precious metals in which he was asked or approached to participate in, or which he was asked to facilitate.

9. Issue and renewal of jewellers’ permits

(1)The Regulator may issue to any person, in the prescribed form and for a period not exceeding five years, a jeweller’s permit entitling the holder to do such of the following, as may be specified in the permit, namely—
(a)to buy or receive semi-fabricated precious metal in any form from any person authorised under this Act to sell, deal in or dispose of semi-fabricated precious metals;
(b)to change the form of, or in any other manner add value to, semi-fabricated precious metal in his or her lawful possession; and
(c)to dispose of any semi-fabricated precious metal in his possession.
(2)Any person who is refused a jeweller’s permit may, within 30 days after having been notified by the Regulator of the refusal, appeal in the prescribed manner to the Minister who may—
(a)dismiss the appeal;
(b)direct the Regulator to issue such a permit to that person, subject to the succeeding provisions of this section; or
(c)make any other order he or she deems fit.
(3)Before the Regulator issues a jeweller’s permit the applicant for the permit must pay the prescribed fee.
(4)A jeweller’s permit terminates in accordance with the terms and conditions under which it was issued.
(5)A jeweller’s permit does not entitle the holder thereof to acquire unwrought precious metal except under the authority of a special permit contemplated in section 4(1)(e).
(6)
(a)The Regulator may renew a jeweller’s permit for further periods not exceeding five years each upon payment of the prescribed fee if an application for such renewal is made at least 30 days before the expiration of the permit.
(b)Subsection (2) applies with the necessary changes in connection with the refusal by the Regulator of any application in terms of paragraph (a).
(7)Whenever—
(a)any application under subsection (6) for the renewal of a jeweller’s permit is refused by the Regulator and no review or appeal against such refusal is lodged or any review or appeal so lodged is dismissed;
(b)any jeweller’s permit has expired and no application for its renewal has been made by the holder thereof;
(c)any jeweller’s permit has been cancelled under this Act; or
(d)the activities authorised by such permit are discontinued permanently, the person who held the permit must forthwith submit to the Regulator a solemn declaration of the mass of any semi-fabricated precious metal in his or her possession at the date such licence expired or was refused or cancelled or such activities were discontinued, and must dispose of such semi-fabricated precious metal in accordance with this Act within 30 days after the date of such declaration or within such longer period as the Regulator may allow.
(8)The holder of a jeweller’s permit must keep proper books of account in accordance with generally accepted accounting practice and must submit such information as may be prescribed to the Regulator annually by not later than 90 days after the end of the financial year of the holder’s business.
(9)The holder of a jeweller’s permit may not carry on any activity authorised by the permit elsewhere than on the premises or at the place described on the permit or described in any endorsement of that permit in terms of subsection (10), and the holder may not be in possession of semi-fabricated precious metal at any place elsewhere than on the premises or at the place so described unless he or she is transporting such semi-fabricated precious metal in accordance with section 13.
(10)
(a)If at any time it becomes necessary for the holder of a jeweller’s permit to transfer or extend the activities referred to in subsection (9) to any premises or place not described on his or her permit the Regulator may endorse on the permit the situation of such new or additional premises or place and must forthwith in writing notify the National Commissioner of the endorsement.
(b)An endorsement contemplated in paragraph (a) does not allow the holder of the jeweller’s permit to conduct business from the additional premises or place under a name that differs from the name used on the existing premises or place.
(c)If the holder of the jeweller’s permit wishes to conduct business from any other premises or place under a name that differs from the name used on the existing premises or place, he or she must apply for a new licence in respect of the additional premises or place.
(11)The holder of a jeweller’s permit issued in terms of this section must forthwith and in writing advise the Regulator of any unlawful conduct relating to precious metals in which he or she was asked or approached to participate in, or which he or she was asked to facilitate.

10. Permit to import precious metals

(1)Subject to subsection (2), no person may import any unwrought or semi-fabricated precious metal into the Republic.
(2)
(a)The Regulator may, subject to such conditions as may be prescribed and after consultation with the National Commissioner and the National Treasury, issue to—
(i)any person contemplated in section 4(1) (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) or (f) in the prescribed form a permit entitling such person to import any unwrought or semi-fabricated precious metal into the Republic or
(ii)any person contemplated in section 5(1) (a), (b), (d), (e), (f) or (g) in the prescribed form a permit entitling such person to import any semi-fabricated precious metal into the Republic
(b)The persons contemplated in paragraph (a) must declare, and submit the prescribed documentary proof of the origin of such precious metal to the Regulator in the application for the permit.
(c)The import permit contemplated in paragraph (a) shall be valid for a period not exceeding one year.
(3)The Regulator or any member of the South African Police Service may at any time inspect any precious metal contemplated in subsection (2) and take such sample as may be reasonable to establish or confirm the origin and content of such precious metal.
(4)The permit issued in terms of subsection (2) must state the origin of the precious metal in question, the purpose of the import and such other particulars as may be prescribed.

11. Cancellation of licences, permits and certificates

The Regulator may cancel a licence, permit or certificate if the holder of such licence, permit or certificate, as the case may be—
(a)has furnished false or incomplete information in the application for that licence, permit or certificate, or has submitted any other information required in terms of this Act that is false or incomplete;
(b)contravenes or fails to comply with a condition imposed in the licence, permit or certificate;
(c)contravenes or fails to comply with a provision of this Act; or
(d)is convicted of an offence in terms of this Act or any other offence involving fraud, theft, corruption or forgery.

12. Export of precious metals

(1)No person may export any unwrought or semi-fabricated gold except with the approval of the National Treasury in terms of the Exchange Control Regulations made under the Currency and Exchanges Act, 1933 (Act No. 9 of 1933), granted with the concurrence of the Minister.
(2)No person may export any unwrought or semi-fabricated metals of the platinum group except with the written approval of the Minister which shall be granted subject to the promotion of equitable access to, and the orderly local beneficiation of such metals.

13. Transportation and conveyance of precious metals

A person may not transport or in any manner convey any semi-fabricated or unwrought precious metal outside the boundaries of any mine, works or other property or place where such metal is mined, refined or worked with, unless he or she is in possession of the prescribed documentation.

14. Authorised dealer entitled to buy precious metal in any form

(1)An authorised dealer may buy precious metal in any form from any person authorised to dispose of semi-fabricated or unwrought precious metal in terms of this Act after such person has shown the dealer a licence, permit, mining or prospecting right or certificate authorising that person to dispose of such precious metal.
(2)Where a transaction takes place between an authorised dealer and the holder of a certificate referred to in section 4(1)(d) or 5(1)(d) such certificate must be handed to and retained by the authorised dealer for such period as may be prescribed.

15. Register of transactions to be kept by certain persons dealing in unwrought precious metal

(1)
(a)Every holder of a refining licence or a precious metal beneficiation licence, authorised dealer or producer who deposits for safe-keeping, receives, despatches or otherwise disposes of unwrought precious metal must keep a true and correct register in the prescribed form and for the prescribed period of all such precious metal deposited, received, despatched or otherwise disposed of by him or her.
(b)The person contemplated in paragraph (a) must enter in such register immediately after the conclusion of each such transaction—
(i)the date of the transaction;
(ii)the names and addresses of the parties to the transaction;
(iii)the nature and mass of the material or the mass of the precious metal which is the subject of the transaction;
(iv)the price, if any, received or paid.
(2)Every holder, authorised dealer or producer contemplated in subsection (1) must—
(a)on a quarterly basis submit to the Regulator a true copy in duplicate of such register for the last preceding quarter, together with an affirmation or a solemn declaration of the correctness thereof; and
(b)produce and exhibit such register whenever requested to do so by an Inspector appointed in terms of section 3(2)(c) or any member of the South African Police Service holding a rank of or above the rank of sergeant.
(3)
(a)Subsections (1) and (2) apply with the necessary changes and subject to paragraph (b) to the holder of a special permit contemplated in section 2(1)(e).
(b)The Minister may exempt any holder contemplated in paragraph (a) or any class of such holders from the application of subsections (1) and (2).
(4)Subject to subsection (5), any information or data in the register submitted in terms of subsection (2)(a) may be disclosed to any person—
(a)in order to achieve any object of the Regulator; or
(b)pursuant to the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 (Act No. 2 of 2000).
(5)No information or data in the register submitted in terms of subsection (2)(a) may be disclosed to any person if it contains information or data supplied in confidence by the supplier of the information or data.
(6)Any person submitting information or data in terms of subsection (2)(a) must inform the Regulator and indicate which information and data must be treated as confidential and may not be disclosed, unless with the written approval of the licensee.

16. Powers of police to inspect, search and seize

(1)A member of the South African Police Service may at any reasonable time, without prior notice and on the authority of a warrant issued in terms of subsection (5) and subject to section 17, enter and search any premises that have a bearing on an investigation and are specified in the warrant, including a private dwelling, and may—
(a)seal, mark or otherwise secure any package or container found in or on such premises;
(b)take an account of all precious metal found in or on such premises and, if necessary, take such precious metal into custody;
(c)search any person on those premises if there are reasonable grounds for believing that the person has an article, a document or a record in his or her possession that has a bearing on the investigation;
(d)take extracts from, or make copies of any book, document or record on the premises and that has a bearing on the investigation;
(e)demand the production of and inspect any licence, permit, certificate or document that is relevant to the inspection; and
(f)take samples of any substance that is relevant to the inspection.
(2)A member of the South African Police Service who removes anything from the premises being searched must—
(a)issue a receipt for it to the owner or person in control of the premises; and
(b)unless it is an item that such owner or person is not allowed to possess in terms of this Act, return it as soon as practicable after it has served the purpose for which it was removed.
(3)Upon the request of a member of the South African Police Service acting under a warrant issued in terms of subsection (5), the occupant and any other person present on the premises must—
(a)make available or accessible or deliver to the member any document, record, object or material which pertains to an investigation contemplated in subsection (1) and which is in the possession or under the control of the occupant or other person;
(b)furnish such information as he or she has with regard to the matter under investigation; and
(c)render such reasonable assistance as the member may require to be able to perform his or her functions in terms of this Act efficiently.
(4)Before questioning any person at the premises in question, the member of the South African Police Service must advise that person of his or her right to be assisted at the time by an advocate or attorney, and allow that person to exercise that right.
(5)A warrant contemplated in subsection (1) may be issued by a judge or a magistrate—
(a)in relation to premises on or from which there is reason to believe that a contravention of this Act has been or is being committed; and
(b)if it appears from information on oath or affirmation that there are reasonable grounds to believe that there is evidence available in or upon such premises of a contravention of this Act.
(6)The warrant may impose restrictions on the powers of the member of the South African Police Service.
(7)A warrant issued in terms of this section—
(a)remains in force until—
(i)it is executed;
(ii)it is cancelled by the person who issued it or, if such person is not available, by any person with similar authority;
(iii)the expiry of one month from the date of its issue; or
(iv)the purpose for which the warrant was issued has lapsed, whichever occurs first; and
(b)must be executed by day unless the person who issues the warrant authorises the execution thereof by night.
(8)For the purposes of this section “premises” means any building, structure or tent together with the land on which it is situated and the adjoining land used in connection with it and includes any land without any building, structure or tent and any vehicle, aircraft, ship or any other means of conveyance.

17. Identification prior to entry, and resistance against entry

(1)A member of the South African Police Service who has obtained a warrant in terms of section 16(5), may be accompanied by an Inspector appointed in terms of section 3(2)(c), and must immediately before entering the premises in question—
(a)audibly announce that he or she is authorised to enter the premises and demand admission to the premises; and
(b)notify the person in control of the premises of the purpose of the entry, unless there are reasonable grounds to believe that such announcement or notifica­tion might defeat the purpose of the search.
(2)The member of the South African Police Service must—
(a)hand to the person in control of the premises a copy of the warrant or, if no such person is present, affix such a copy to a prominent place on the premises; and
(b)on request of the person in charge of such premises show his or her certificate of appointment to that person.
(3)A member of the South African Police Service may overcome resistance to the entry and search by using such force as is reasonably required, including the breaking of a door or window of the premises.

18. Entry and search of premises without warrant

A member of the South African Police Service may without a warrant exercise any power referred to in section 16(1) if—
(a)a person who is competent to do so consents to such exercise, and he or she is accompanied by an Inspector appointed in terms of section 3(2)(c); or
(b)there are reasonable grounds to believe that a warrant would be issued in terms of section 16(5) and that the delay in obtaining the warrant would defeat the object of the warrant.

19. Disposal of items seized by member of South African Police Service

Subject to section 21, a member of the South African Police Service must deal with and dispose of any seized item in the manner provided for in Chapter 2 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 (Act No. 51 of 1977).

20. Offences and penalties

(1)Any person who—
(a)contravenes section 4(1) or (3), 5(1) or (2), 7(5) or (6), 8(6),(7) or (9), 9(5), (9) or (10) or 11(1) or (2);
(b)buys unwrought or semi-fabricated precious metal without having satisfied himself or herself that the vendor thereof is lawfully entitled to sell or dispose of such metal; or
(c)maliciously places any unwrought or semi-fabricated precious metal in the possession or on the premises of any other person with intent that such other person may be convicted under this Act, is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding one million rand or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 20 years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
(2)Any person who—
(a)contravenes section 4(4), 7(8) or (9), 8(4) or (10), 9(7), (8), (10) or (11), 10(1) or (2), 13 or 15(1) or (2) or 22(1);
(b)being an authorised dealer contemplated in section 14(1), buys unwrought or semi-fabricated precious metal from any person who has not produced a licence, permit or certificate as provided in that section;
(c)being an authorised dealer contemplated in section 14(1), fails to obtain and retain the certificate contemplated in section 14(2); or
(d)fails to comply with any lawful request to produce and exhibit the register or proper books of account required to be kept by him or her in terms of this Act,
is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding five hundred thousand rand or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 10 years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
(3)If any person convicted in terms of subsection (1) or (2) is at the time of his or her conviction the holder of a licence, permit or certificate contemplated in this Act, he or she shall forfeit such licence, permit or certificate and any right of renewal thereof for such period as the court convicting him or her may direct.

21. Disposal of precious metal

(1)
(a)On the conviction of any person of a crime or offence involving precious metal a court, in passing sentence, may order that any semi-fabricated or unwrought precious metal in respect of which the person has been convicted be delivered to the owner thereof, if the court is satisfied as to the ownership.
(b)If the court is not so satisfied such precious metal must be forfeited to the State.
(2)If the owner of any mine can satisfy the court or police official concerned on a balance of probabilities that any unwrought or semi-fabricated precious metal that has been or would otherwise be forfeited to the State in terms of this section, the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 (Act No. 51 of 1977), or any other law was mined in that mine, and has not been disposed of by the mine owner, such precious metal must be returned to that owner.
(3)Before returning any precious metal to any owner of a mine in terms of subsection (2) the court or police official concerned may require from that owner to indemnify the State against any claims to such precious metal or to provide such guarantees in that regard as the court or police official concerned may reasonably require.
(4)A forfeiture in terms of subsection (1) does not affect the right which the owner of the precious metals or any person other than the convicted person may have to the property forfeited, if he or she satisfies the court concerned that he or she did not know that such property was being used or would be used for the purpose of or in connection with the commission of the offence in question or that he or she could not prevent such use.

22. Database for precious metals

(1)Any producer or any person who imports precious metal must submit to the Forensic Science Laboratory of the South African Police Service such specimens of any precious metals produced or imported by him or her as may be prescribed.
(2)The Head of the Forensic Science Laboratory or a person designated by him or her must create and maintain a database containing such information in respect of the precious metals contemplated in subsection (1) as may be prescribed.

23. Regulations

(1)The Minister may by notice in the Gazette make regulations regarding—
(a)the granting of any certificate, permit, licence or other authorisation issued or granted in terms of this Act;
(b)the cancellation and suspension of any certificate, permit, licence or other authorisation issued or granted in terms of this Act;
(c)the prevention of illegal acts pertaining to precious metals;
(d)the requirements for broad-based socio-economic empowerment;
(e)the details relating to precious metal bars that will be regarded as minted bars for the purposes of this Act, which details may include—
(i)precious metal content;
(ii)dimensions and sizes;
(iii)mass;
(iv)approved manufacturers and quantities;
(v)required identifying marks;
(vi)registration numbers;
(vii)tamper-resistant seals and certificates; and
(viii)general appearance and finish;
(f)the circumstances under which minted bars may be held and traded and the documentation relating thereto;
(g)the quantity of minted bars that may be produced in the country;
(h)the manner and form in which a specimen contemplated in section 22 must be submitted for inclusion in the database, when such specimens must be submitted, the documentation that must accompany such specimens and the information that must be provided in respect of each such specimen;
(i)the functions of Inspectors in the service of the Regulator;
(j)documents that would be required as documentary proof of the origin of unwrought or semi-fabricated precious metal imported into the Republic;
(k)carat gold alloys;
(l)anything which may or must be prescribed in terms of this Act; and
(m)any ancillary or incidental administrative or procedural matter that it is necessary to prescribe for the proper implementation or administration of this Act.
(2)Any regulation contemplated in subsection (f) and (g), in relation to gold, may only be made with the concurrence of the Minister of Finance.

24. Repeal of law, transitional provisions and savings

(1)The Mining Rights Act, 1967 (Act No. 20 of 1967), is hereby repealed.
(2)Any application for a certificate or permit referred to in section 143 of the Mining Rights Act, 1967, for a recovery works licence in terms of section 144 of that Act or for a jeweller’s permit in terms of section 145 of that Act that had not been finalised before this section took effect, must be finalised as if it had been lodged in terms of the corresponding provision of this Act.
(3)Any permit or licence issued in terms of the Mining Rights Act, 1967, and still valid immediately before the date of commencement of this section continues in force for the period of two years after such date of commencement.
(4)Any person who wishes to continue with any activity in terms of a permit or licence contemplated in subsection (3) after its expiry in terms of that subsection must apply for the relevant certificate, permit or licence in terms of this Act before its expiry.
(5)If a person has lodged an application in terms of subsection (4) the relevant permit or licence in respect of which the application has been lodged remains valid until such time as the application has been dealt with in terms of this Act.
(6)Except as provided otherwise in this section, anything done under any provision repealed by this Act must be regarded as having been done under the corresponding provision of this Act.

25. Short title and commencement

This Act is called the Precious Metals Act, 2005, and takes effect on a date fixed by the President by proclamation in the Gazette.
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History of this document

01 July 2007
21 April 2006 this version
15 April 2006
Assented to