Mbeki signs e-bill into law

A new South African law is enabling people to legalise documents by remote, electronic signature. President Mbeki stamped his approval of the Act by signing the Electronic Communication and Transactions (ECT) Bill into law in Pretoria ... electronically.

"The Act heralds in a new era," South African Communications Minister Ivy Matsepe-- Casaburri told African Business.

"It will facilitate e-governance and the online activities of smaller enterprises. It will also ease the conclusion of deals, manage financial transactions on-line and encourage investment as well as promote small, medium and micro enterprises."

A major effect of the legislation is the way it will develop a secure and effective environment for consumers and businesses using electronic transmission. This will eliminate the potential for abuse of the information system. The advanced e-signature uses a smart card, fingerprint and password to top security in the signing of an electronic document. It ensures against fake signatures with added protection against forgery through electronic detection of counterfeit and document tampering.

Copyright International Communications Sep 2002
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