OFFENCES AND PENALTIES - When a person is found guilty by a
court of not obeying a provision of the Act, s/he has committed
an offence. - An offence means a wrong has been committed
against the people of South Africa as a whole, and it is
prosecuted under the criminal law. - The Act sets out what
offences there are in section 25. - The regulations may also set
out more offences and penalties. - A penalty is the punishment a
person gets for committing an offence. - The Act sets out the
maximum penalties for each offence in section 24. - But the
court can use its discretion about what an appropriate penalty
is. - There are three categories of offence: - Category 1 – e.g.
lighting a fire in the open air when the fire danger rating is
high. - Category 2 – e.g. failing to prepare a firebreak when
one is required. - Category 3 – e.g. interfering with an FPO in
the performance of his/her duties - Each category has a
different penalty, which may increase with the second
conviction. - First conviction: - Category 1: F