Lamola Appoints Catherine (Kate) O’Regan to Safeguard SA Citizens’ Privacy

Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola has appointed Justice Catherine (Kate) O’Regan as the COVID-19 Designated Judge.

Government will report on a weekly basis to the former Constitutional Court Justice the particulars of those who have been traced using cell phone data.

The move is aimed at finding the contacts of those who test positive for COVID-19.

O’Regan’s role is to ensure that their privacy and personal information is protected, as government works around the clock to contain the spread of the deadly global pandemic.

The requested information would be for inclusion in the COVID-19 Tracing Database.

Lamola said while government does all it can to implement measures to fight the spread of COVID-19, the Designated Judge has an important role to play to safeguard the privacy and personal information of persons during this process.

“The Director-General of Health must file a weekly report with the COVID-19 Designated Judge, setting out the names and details of all persons whose location or movements were so obtained.”

The Minister said Justice O’Regan is a highly respected former Judge of the Constitutional Court and is known for her unwavering commitment to human rights, social justice and the rule of law.

“I am grateful to Justice O’Regan for availing herself for this role, so as to ensure that whilst we fight COVID-19, people’s right to privacy is not compromised,” Lamola said.

Justice O’Regan is a former Judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, having served for 15 years from 1994 to 2009. She acted as Deputy Chief Justice in the absence of Justice Moseneke in 2008.

Since 2010, she served as an ad hoc judge of the Supreme Court of Namibia.

From 2008 to 2012, she served as Chairperson of the United Nations Internal Justice Council, a body established by the General Assembly to help ensure independence and accountability in the internal system of justice within the United Nations.

Since 2011, Justice O’Regan has served as President of the International Monetary Fund Administrative Tribunal, and as a member of the World Bank Sanctions Board since 2012.

She was also the Co-chairperson of the Commission of Inquiry into Inefficiencies in Policing in Khayelitsha.

She is currently a Visiting Professor at the University of Oxford and an Honorary Professor at the University of Cape Town. – SAnews.gov.za

Justice O’Regan is a respected former Judge of our Constitutional Court – known for her commitment to human rights,social justice & the rule of law. Im grateful that she’s availed herself for this role,ensuring while we combat COVID19,peoples rights to privacy aren’t compromised. pic.twitter.com/h0JReLbQKn

— Minister of Justice and Correctional Services 🇿🇦 (@RonaldLamola) April 3, 2020