Judges' working conditions to be improved
5 November 2008, 14:04
By Louise Flanagan
Judges and criminals won't be getting quite so hot under the collar in the Johannesburg High Court. on Tuesday, Justice Minister Enver Surty met judges, listened to complaints - and promised action.
Getting the air-conditioning fixed has been on the judges' agenda for a long time, and Surty said this should be finished by March or April.
"The accused feel the heat in court, and without airconditioning it's worse," quipped Surty, but he was serious about fixing the court building.
Eighteen judgeships - all new - were advertised some time ago. Half are for the Johannesburg High Court and half for the Pretoria High Court.
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Judges and criminals won't be getting quite so hot under the collar in the Johannesburg High Court. on Tuesday, Justice Minister Enver Surty met judges, listened to complaints - and promised action.
Getting the air-conditioning fixed has been on the judges' agenda for a long time, and Surty said this should be finished by March or April.
"The accused feel the heat in court, and without airconditioning it's worse," quipped Surty, but he was serious about fixing the court building.
Eighteen judgeships - all new - were advertised some time ago. Half are for the Johannesburg High Court and half for the Pretoria High Court.
The department is considering trying to get the building next door, used by the SA Post Office but apparently partly vacant, to provide extra space for the new judges and courts.
"Where do we have their chambers? Which courts do they occupy?" said Surty.
The minister, who took over his portfolio in the recent cabinet reshuffle, was briefed on the situation at the court by Transvaal Judge President Bernard Ngoepe and Deputy Judge President Phineas Mojapelo.
He brought along a team of officials to walk through the building with him, tell him what was possible and make plans.
"This is a heritage site, so whatever you do, you have to do it very carefully," said Surty.
It's believed to be the first walkabout by a justice minister at the Johannesburg High Court in at least three years.
Surty said there was money available for quick repairs like fixing broken locks and sorting out toilets.
"The quick fixes will be immediate," he said, pointing out that these were things that didn't cost much.
The Johannesburg High Court is being repaired out of the current budget.
In 2009 it will be the Pretoria High Court's turn
Surty said problems of missing files were being addressed with new registers, and there were discussions about using mobile filing systems and scanning case documents into the computer system. The typing of judgments has almost doubled, and security in general is being improved.
Surty, who started his career as a human rights lawyer, is getting to grips with the justice portfolio and intends meeting all the judge presidents and heads of the Supreme Court of Appeal and the constitutional court.
He called his new job extremely challenging.
"It's very demanding, but I thrive on challenges."
- This article was originally published on page 5 of The Star on November 05, 2008
Durban
