| (1) | A committee established in terms of section 12(1) may authorise the registrar to suspend the registration of any person who is registered or deemed to be registered in terms of this Act and who— |
| (a) | has failed to comply with the requirements in respect of continuing professional development as prescribed; or |
| (b) | on the basis of a complaint lodged with the council or information available at the disposal of the council, is posing an imminent threat or danger to the public or any animal in terms of his or her professional practice. |
| (2) | The authorisation contemplated in subsection (1) shall be granted only after— |
| (a) | such person has been notified in writing by the registrar of the intended suspension of his or her registration; |
| (b) | such person has been afforded the opportunity to furnish reasons why his or her registration should not be suspended; |
| (c) | the committee has conducted a hearing in the prescribed manner; and |
| (d) | such person has been informed of and has exercised or waived his or her right to lodge an appeal in terms of section 33A against the decision of the council or committee. |
| (3) | Subject to subsection (2), the registrar shall issue a written notice of suspension and forward such notice to such person by way of certified mail, fax or electronic transmission to the address appearing in respect of him or her in the register. |
| (4) | As from the date of receipt of the notice contemplated in subsection (3) by such person— |
| (a) | any registration certificate issued in terms of this Act to that person shall be deemed to be suspended; and |
| (b) | he or she shall immediately cease to practise the veterinary profession or para-veterinary profession in respect of which he or she is registered or to perform any act which he or she, in his or her capacity as a registered person, is entitled to perform, until such time as the suspension of his or her registration is terminated by written notice in terms of subsection (5). |
| (5) | The suspension of any person in terms of subsection (1) shall be terminated by the registrar upon— |
| (a) | the expiry of the suspension period; |
| (b) | such person complying with requirements in respect of continuing professional development as prescribed or; |
| (c) | his or her compliance with such other requirements as the council may determine. |
[Section 28A inserted by section 7 of Act No. 16 of 2012]
