Constitution (Prevention of Disabilities) Act, 1940

by enacted by the Parliament of South Africa

Act

To amend the law relating to the incurrence of disabilities by members of Parliament and other persons by reason of service in the defence of the Union.

---

(Signed by the Governor-General in Afrikaans.)
(Assented to 14th May, 1940.)

---

Be it enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate and the House of Assembly of the Union of South Africa, as follows:―

Amendment of section 53 of the South Africa Act, as amended by section 2 of Act 17 of 1933.

1. Section fifty-three of the South Africa Act, 1909, as amended, is hereby amended by the addition at the end thereof of the following new sub-paragraph:

“(5)

any person who, while the Union is at war, is an officer or member of the military, air or naval forces of the Union or any other force or service established by or under the South Africa Defence Act, 1912 (Act No. 13 of 1912)”.

2. Section fifty-four of the South Africa Act, 1909, is hereby amended by the insertion in paragraph (c) thereof, after the word “be” of the words “unless his absence is due to his serving, while the Union is at war, with the military, air or naval forces of the Union or any other force or service established by or under the South Africa Defence Act, 1912 (Act No. 13 of 1912).”

Amendment of section 56 of the South Africa Act, as amended by section 1 of Act 51 of 1926, section 2 of Act 29 of 1933 and section 1 of Act 43 of 1935.

3. Sub-section (2) of section fifty-six of the South Africa Act, 1909, as amended, is hereby amended by the insertion after paragraph (c) thereof of the following new paragraph:

(c)bis.

when his absence is due to his serving, while the Union is at war, with the military, air or naval forces of the Union or any other force or service established by or under the South Africa Defence Act, 1912 (Act No. 13 of 1912)”.

Amendment of section 2 of Act 42 of 1925, as amended by section 2 of Act 38 of 1931.

4. Sub-section (4) of section two of the South-West Africa Constitution Act, 1925, as amended, is hereby amended by the insertion in paragraph (c) thereof, after the word “Administrator”, of the words “unless his absence is due to his serving, while the Union is at war, with the military, air or naval forces of the Union or any other force or service established by or under the South Africa Defence Act, 1912 (Act No. 13 of 1912)”.

Amendment of section 7 of Act 42 of 1925.

5. Sub-section (4) of section seven of the South-West Africa Constitution Act, 1925, is hereby amended―

(a)		by the insertion in paragraph (d) thereof, after the word “Administrator”, of the words “unless his absence is due to his serving, while the Union is at war, with the military, air or naval forces of the Union or any other force or service established by or under the South Africa Defence Act, 1912 (Act No. 13 of 1912)”; and
(b)		by the substitution in paragraph (e) thereof for the word “accepts” of the word “holds”, by the insertion in that paragraph, after the word “Committee”, of the words “or membership while the Union is at war, of the military, air or naval forces of the Union or any other force or service established by or under the South Africa Defence Act, 1912 (Act No. 13 of 1912)”, and by the substitution for the word “houden” appearing in the Nederlands text of that paragraph of the word “bekleden”.

Amendment of section 17 of Act 42 of 1925.

6. Sub-section (2) of section seventeen of the South-West Africa Constitution Act, 1925, is hereby amended by the insertion in paragraph (d) thereof, after the word “Council”, of the words “or membership while the Union is at war, of the military, air or naval forces of the Union or any other force or service established by or under the South Africa Defence Act, 1912 (Act No. 13 of 1912)”, and by the substitution for the word “houden” appearing in the Nederlands text of that paragraph of the word “bekleden”.

Repeal of Act 10 of 1915.

7. So much of the Removal of Disabilities (War and Rebellion) Act, 1915, as is unrepealed is hereby repealed.

Short title.

8. This Act shall be called the Constitution (Prevention of Disabilities) Act, 1940.