Independent Newspapers

The Prevention and Combating of Torture of Persons Bill could see all public officials – including teachers, nurses and prison warders – liable to be charged with torture.

Several civil society groups held a seminar about the bill on Tuesday.

The bill refers to torture as “any act or omission by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted by a public official or any person acting on behalf of a public official”.

Valdi van Reenen-Le Roux, Trauma Centre director, said the fact that the bill applied to all public officials was significant.

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