“This morning I presented the fruits of our labour to Cabinet and I am pleased to announce that Cabinet
has approved both of these Bills,” said Justice Minister Jeff Radebe in Parliament on Wednesday.
Radebe announced that the cabinet has approved both the Superior Courts Bill and the accompanying Constitutional Amendment Bill.
“This morning I presented the fruits of our labour to Cabinet and I am pleased to announce that Cabinet
has approved both of these Bills,” said Justice Minister Jeff Radebe in Parliament on Wednesday.
Radebe announced that the cabinet has approved both the Superior Courts Bill and the accompanying Constitutional Amendment Bill.
According to a press statement, the two approved bills are intended to bring significant transformation of our judicial system.
The Supreme Court of Appeal Bill provides for the restructuring of the existing high courts into a single High Court of South Africa, with one division of the High Court in each province.
Ministerial spokesperson, Tlali Tlali said that “we will continue to use the Grahamstown and Port Elizabeth physical infrastructure.”
He said that further information concerning the move of the High Court seat, such as proposed budgets and Bhisho’s capacity to accommodate the move, would be released in due course.
Tlali reportedly said that the decision had followed “all the necessary consultation” and stakeholders had been involved.
Questioned whether public participation took place prior to the act being approved by the cabinet, he said every single Bill gets processed in the same way and that public participation is a necessary element that has to take place before the act is passed.
However, he was uncertain if public hearings had taken place. Makana Mayor, Vumile Lwana said, “The removal of the High Court is a blow for the community of Grahamstown, let alone the historic part of it interms of Grahamstown being home of the High Court.”
He said that the number of people that have to relocate will greatly affect the economy of the town as the High Court is a key sector in Grahamstown and there are businesses that depend on the services they offer to lawyers and advocates.
“I am hoping that this will get reviewed in light of the decentralisation of the services of the state,” he said, before adding: “This is a difficult situation, the sad thing is, it is expected to happen.
Nothing is stopping us in persuading them to prevent this from happening.” He said that the regional ANC is shocked about the decision as politically there has been an interest for the High Court seat to remain in Grahamstown.
He said that they are in the process of lobbying through presentations and meetings and are also gathering support to mandate their attempts.
The move of the Grahamstown High Court seat will have an immense effect on Grahamstown’s economy, with an estimated immediate loss of R23-million.
Rhodes Investec Business School lecturer, Alix Whittington-Jones said that the large number of relocations will have a marked impact on the housing market and schools in Grahamstown.
“In essence, I suspect depending on the number of people involved, that there will be a knock on effect in Grahamstown.”
She added that the move of the High Court seat could also affect the town’s hospitality industry as less people will be visiting and staying in Grahamstown.
“Some industries will be affected more than others, but if we have less professional people coupled with more unemployment, we have less disposable income so less spending occurs.
As money supply dries up the Grahamstown economy shrinks, which does not bode well for Grahamstonians.
But I also believe that change sometimes brings with it unexpected results, and perhaps if this is a predetermined event over which we have no control, we need to find the opportunities in it.”
