Section 15: Offences

15. Offences (1) Subject to subsection (2), any person who fails to comply with this Act or with the conditions attached to a ground water licence shall commit an offence, and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding 5,000 rupees and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months. (2) (a) Any person who contravenes section 4 (2) shall commit an offence and shall, on a first conviction, be liable to a fine of not less than 250,000 rupees and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years and, on a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine of not less than 500,000 rupees together with imprisonment for a term of not less than 2 years. (b) The Court may, in addition to any penalty inflicted, order the forfeiture or the dismantling of any works used in the commission of the offence. (3) Notwithstanding— (a) section 114 of the Courts Act; (b) section 72 of the District and Intermediate Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act, a Magistrate shall have jurisdiction to try any offence and impose any penalty provided under this Act. [S. 15 amended by Act 32 of 1989.]