(1) On receiving a notice of appeal under section 29H, the Secretary to the Panel shall—
(a) forward notice of it to the Panel;
(b) if the appeal is in relation to racing and if the placing of a horse may be affected by the result of the appeal, give a copy of the notice of the appeal to the owner of the horse, if the owner is not the appellant;
(c) if applicable, serve on the appellant a transcript of the evidence taken at the hearing in respect of the decision appealed against or any statement of reasons given in respect of the decision being appealed;
(d) serve on the respondent—
(i) notice of the appeal, and
(ii) notice of the grounds of appeal, and
(iii) if applicable, a transcript of the evidence taken at the hearing in respect of the decision appealed against or a statement of reasons for the decision appealed against.
(2) A notice of appeal may not be withdrawn except with the leave of the Panel and in granting leave, a Panel may impose such conditions as to the payment of costs or otherwise as it considers fit.
(3) The date, time and place for the hearing of an appeal is to be fixed by a Panel and the Secretary to the Panel shall give at least 7 days' written notice of the date, time and place to the appellant and to such other persons as the Panel considers fit.
(4) A Panel must commence the hearing of an appeal as soon as practicable but within 28 days of the lodging of the notice of appeal.
(5) A Panel may extend a period of time specified in this section if in its opinion the circumstances of the case so require.
(6) If a Panel is of the opinion that an appeal should be heard and determined as a matter of urgency, a Panel may, with the consent of the appellant—
(a) dispense with the requirement for a transcript of the evidence taken at the hearing in respect of the decision appealed against to be served on the appellant and forwarded to the Panel; and
(b) shorten the period of notice fixed under subsection (3);
(c) rely on evidence available to it concerning the hearing in respect of the decision appealed against; and
(d) direct that the appellant must lodge a notice of appeal in the manner and within the time specified and limit the appeal to the grounds specified in that notice, except by leave of the Panel.
(7) A Panel may, on written application by an appellant lodged with the Secretary to the Panel, issue a notice to the licensee that the decision appealed against—
(a) is not to be carried into effect; or
(b) is to be carried into effect only to the extent specified in the notice,
pending the determination of the appeal.
(8) A notice under subsection (7) has effect for the period specified in the notice.
(9) A Panel may impose conditions in the notice under subsection (7).
(10) A notice under subsection (7) is not in force for the period during which a condition is not complied with.
(11) A notice remains in force until it is revoked by the Panel or the appeal to which it relates is dismissed, determined or withdrawn, whichever happens first.
(12) A Panel may, subject to this Act and the Rules of Racing, determine its own procedure.
(Inserted by Act 18 of 2018)