Kate O’Regan appointed South Africa’s COVID-19 Designated Judge

The Director of the Bonavero Institute, Kate O’Regan, has been appointed by the South African Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Mr Ronald Lamola, as the COVID-19 Designated Judge in terms of regulations issued under South Africa’s Disaster Management Act, 2002.  The regulations authorise government to require mobile phone network operators to provide information about the location of those known or reasonably suspected to have contracted COVID-19.  As COVID-19 Designated Judge, Justice O’Regan may make recommendations to several government ministries regarding the amendment or enforcement of the regulations to safeguard the right to privacy, while ensuring the ability of the Department of Health to engage in urgent and effective contact tracing to combat the spread of COVID-19. The appointment will last for the period of the state of disaster and for eight weeks thereafter.