BuaNews (Tshwane)
Bathandwa Mbola
26 March 2008
Ekurhuleni — Government's determination to transform South Africa's criminal justice system to a new, efficient and transformed entity has been advanced by the opening of state-of-the-art newly refurbished Daveyton Court.
The court is equipped with the latest technologies like the E-Scheduler and Digital Recording System to ensure the proper recording and tracking of cases.
Speaking at the official opening of the court on Wednesday, Department of Justice and Constitutional Development Minister, Brigitte Mabandla said the upgraded court would bring the justice system closer to the 700 000 people is serves.
"I want to emphasise that this court belongs to the community and for it to have a positive impact on justice delivery in this area, the community must embrace it," the minister said adding that the court facilities on their own cannot ensure that justice is fully dispensed and accessible to all members of the communities.
The new office will also include a criminal, civil, regional and sexual offences court fitted with the Closed Circuit Television for specialised offences.
It will also provide adequate accommodation for five Magistrates, four Prosecutors and 27 administrative support staff.
Provision has been made for Lay Assessors who will be identified from the community to assist the judiciary with adjudication of criminal matters.
The court will serve the communities of Putfontein, Kingsway, Petit and Etwatwa and Zenzele.
These communities previously had to travel to the Benoni Magistrate Court for family law services which includes maintenance, domestic violence, deceased estates and children's court.
The new court will also decrease the pressure from the Benoni Magistrate Court which was serving all these communities.
About 9 841 of the active maintenance cases being heard at the Benoni Magistrate Court involve people from Daveyton - this is 60 percent of the total maintenance cases the court deals with.
Preparations are underway to move all cases belonging to the Daveyton communities to the new court, including the 7296 domestic violence cases.
During the Magistrates Conference hosted by the department in September 2007, there was firm commitment made by the Magistracy to improve the efficiency of the Lower Courts and enhance the integrity and accountability of these judiciaries.
"We have also, in the recent times promoted draft legislation which seeks to enable the Magistracy and the Lower Courts to improve their quality of services, amongst them the Judicial Education Institute Bill and the Extension of Civil Jurisdiction to the Regional Courts," said the minister.
The Judicial Education Institute Bill is a watershed in the transformation discourse as it provides, for the integrated judicial education programme for Magistrates and Judges.
The Extension of Civil Jurisdiction to Regional Courts seeks to transform the regional courts and create a truly unified and single judiciary, Ms Mabandla said.
"The enactment of this proposed legislation will ensure that the family disputes including divorce matters will be heard in Daveyton, instead of Johannesburg, as it is the position currently."
Efforts are underway to realign all magisterial areas of jurisdiction to increase access to justice.
The Daveyton Court will be one of the courts that will be proclaimed as a sub-district and in line with the re-demarcation of Magisterial District.
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