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Insolvency Act, 1936 (Act No. 24 of 1936)

65. Interrogation of insolvent and other witnesses

 

(1) At any meeting of the creditors of an insolvent estate the officer presiding thereat may call and administer the oath to the insolvent and any other person present at the meeting who was or might have been summoned in terms of subsection (2) of section sixty-four and the said officer, the trustee and any creditor who has proved a claim against the estate or the agent of any of them may interrogate a person so called and sworn concerning all matters relating to the insolvent or his business or affairs, whether before or after the sequestration of his estate, and concerning any property belonging to his estate, and concerning the business, affairs or property of his or her spouse: Provided that the presiding officer shall disallow any question which is irrelevant and may disallow any question which would prolong the interrogation unnecessarily.

 

(2) In connection with the production of any book or document in compliance with a summons issued under subsection (3) of section sixty-four or at an interrogation of a person under subsection (1) of this section, the law relating to privilege as applicable to a witness summoned to produce a book or document or giving evidence in a court of law, shall apply: Provided that a banker at whose bank the insolvent in question or his or her spouse keeps or at any time kept an account, shall be obliged to produce, if summoned to do so under subsection (3) of section sixty-four, any cheque in his possession which was drawn by the insolvent or his or her spouse within one year before the sequestration of the insolvent's estate, or if any cheque so drawn is not available, then any record of the payment, date of payment and amount of that cheque which may be available to him, or a copy of such record and if called upon to do so, to give any other information available to him in connection with such cheque or the account of the insolvent or his or her spouse; and provided further that a person interrogated under subsection (1) shall not be entitled at such interrogation to refuse to answer any question upon the ground that the answer would tend to incriminate him or upon the ground that he is to be tried on a criminal charge and may be prejudiced at such a trial by his answer.

 

(2A)
(a) Where any person gives evidence in terms of the provisions of this section and is obliged to answer questions which may incriminate him or, where he is to be tried on a criminal charge, may prejudice him at such trial, the presiding officer shall, notwithstanding the provisions of section 39(6), order that such part of the proceedings be held in camera and that no information regarding such questions and answers may be published in any manner whatsoever.
(b) No evidence regarding any questions and answers contemplated in paragraph (a) shall be admissible in any criminal proceedings, except in criminal proceedings where the person concerned stands trial on a charge relating to the administering or taking of an oath or the administering or making of an affirmation or the giving of false evidence or the making of a false statement in connection with such questions and answers, and in criminal proceedings contemplated in section 139(1) relating to a failure to answer lawful questions fully and satisfactorily.
(c) Any person who contravenes any provision of an order contemplated in paragraph (a), shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to the penalty mentioned in subsection (5) of section 154 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 (Act No. 51 of 1977).

 

(3) The presiding officer shall record or cause to be recorded in the manner provided by the rules of court for the recording of evidence in a civil case before a magistrate's court the statement of any person giving evidence under this section: Provided that if a person who may be required to give evidence under this section made to the trustee or his agent a statement which was reduced to writing, or delivered a statement in writing to the trustee or his agent, that statement may be read by or read over to that person when he is called as a witness under this section and if then adhered to by him, shall be deemed to be evidence given under this section.

 

(4) The insolvent shall at such interrogation be required to make a declaration that he has made a full and true disclosure of all his affairs.

 

(5) Any evidence given under this section shall, subject to the provisions of subsection (2A), be admissible in any proceedings instituted against the person who gave that evidence.

 

(6) Any person called upon to give evidence under this section may be assisted at his interrogation by counsel, an attorney or agent.

 

(7) Any person summoned to attend a meeting of creditors for the purpose of being interrogated under this section (other than the insolvent and his or her spouse) shall be entitled to witness fees to be paid out of the estate, to which he would be entitled if he were a witness in any civil proceedings in a court of law.

 

(8) If the insolvent or his or her spouse is called upon to attend any meeting of creditors held after the second meeting or an adjourned second meeting, he or she shall be entitled to an allowance out of the insolvent estate to defray his or her necessary expenses in connection with such attendance.