Newly appointed Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Thembi Simelane has pledged her commitment to reducing court backlogs during her term.
Massive backlogs and lengthy delays in the administration of justice have been a long-standing concern.
In a wide-ranging interview with the publication recently, the minister described clearing backlogs as key to ensuring justice was accessible.
From prosecuting violent crime and corruption to cleaning up the master’s office to addressing infrastructure challenges at the courts, Simelane has a long list of priorities for her term, but at the core of it all is making justice accessible.
“This is a right which is mandated to you by the constitution. The Constitution guarantees you access to justice. Our responsibility is to ensure that we make that right – that is deservedly given to every citizen of the country, realizable.”
Against this backdrop, Simelane said they have to reduce the court backlog, and that this is the legacy she hopes to leave in the ministry.
“If we can deal with the backlogs in our courts – because that’s where access to justice gets to be delayed – then I would have made a dent.”
The judiciary’s latest annual report put the backlog in the criminal courts at almost 50%.
WOMEN LEADERSHIP
Simelane said the appointment of women to key leadership positions within her portfolio is significant.
Women are now at the helm of the ministry, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the Investigating Directorate (ID), and the Asset Forfeiture Unit.
And for the first time in South Africa’s history, a woman will lead the judiciary following the appointment of Chief Justice Mandisa Maya.
Simelane spoke about what this means as South Africa heads into Women’s Month.
“I think it’s significant – one – in terms of the reduction and ultimate elimination of barriers which say women can’t be leaders in various fields or in various spaces.”
She admitted, however, that it’s taken too long for South Africa to reach this point.
“It’s 30 years – I do feel that we should have gotten to this achievement much earlier.”
In an effort to do her part to level the playing field for women across the country, Simelane said that during her term she wants to ease the burden on women-headed households by improving maintenance-related court services.
“We have got a shortage of our maintenance clerks and our maintenance officers. I said to the CFO we are relooking into our structure, those posts are funded – close to around 250 to 300 of them. I’m going to fill them. Each and every court must have a maintenance clerk.”
Simelane said this was only one part of how she plans to address inefficiencies in the system.
-EWN
In other news – Actress Silindile Nodangala (Deliwe Mbambo) leaves ‘Sibongile & The Dlaminis’
Following Slindile Nodangala‘s shocking exit from Sibongile & The Dlaminis, M-Net has revealed that it won’t replace her. Silindile from Umlazi, south of Durban, played the cruel stepmother, Deliwe Mbambo.
It seems she played the character well as viewers were always puzzled by Deliwe’s cruelty towards her stepdaughter, Sibongile. M-Net said Deliwe’s husband, Vuma has to learn to live without Deliwe, confirming the show won’t bring in another actress to replace Silindile. Read More
