Johannesburg — Halfway through public hearings on the Traditional Courts Bill, it's clear that practically everyone other than the Justice Department and traditional leaders consider it to be vastly flawed. That may not be enough to halt the passage of a bill widely suspected to carry more political weight than meets the eye.
The National Council of Provinces' Select Committee on Security and Constitutional Development does not count a single woman among its members. This is unfortunate, because it is this committee which is currently responsible for weighing up public submissions on the Traditional Courts Bill, many of which include the claim that the legislation will be disastrous for women.
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