The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi has noted what she described as “significant challenges,” persisting at the country’s courts and affecting their operations.
Amongst others, she listed load shedding, system failures and water outages as key issues.
According to the department, these have resulted in the delay of cases, as in some instances courts were forced to close.
However, Kubayi has guaranteed that several measures have been instituted to address the challenges.
“The department has prioritised power solutions to minimize the impact of load shedding.
A project of installing generators has been registered with the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure at identified service points.
A total of 460 projects have been registered for backup power supply.
The department has initiated projects to install backup water supply solutions including tanks, boreholes, and pumps at various courts,” said Kubayi.
Earlier this year, Kubayi conducted an inspection across Gauteng courts, in a bid to assess their effectiveness, administrative systems and infrastructure.
Her findings of various systemic failures echoed the concerns raised by the Public Protector, Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka, when she released a report on the shortcomings of courts in the country last year.
In addition to others, Gcaleka’s report found 38 courts to not be fit to support victims of Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
Meanwhile, Kubayi also provided an update on projects that the department was able to complete, in its campaign of improving the state of courts.
“In the last five years, six courts were prioritized for major renovations.
Out of 176 registered water projects, 43 have completed, eight are under construction and the remainder are in the planning phase.
The Department in collaboration with the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, is implementing a planned maintenance programme to upgrade court facilities, repair and renovate.
So far 12 courts have undergone substantial refurbishment,” explained the minister.
Furthermore, the department also said engagements with Eskom are ongoing, as it has requested for courts to be exempted from power cuts.
