An estimated R250-million will be going into correcting the judicial coordination in the Eastern Cape area, with the greatest expenditure dedicated to upgrading the Bhisho High Court and Mthatha High Court facilities.
An estimated R250-million will be going into correcting the judicial coordination in the Eastern Cape area, with the greatest expenditure dedicated to upgrading the Bhisho High Court and Mthatha High Court facilities.
This is according to regional Department of Justice head Vuyani Mguqulwa who had to face the frustrated Grahamstown public after Department of Justice official, Advocate Jacob Skosana left before the community could engage with him.
It was agreed at the meeting to seek another appointment with the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Jeff Radebe. Mguqulwa said that he understood the community's frustrations.
Responding to the question as to why Grahamstown must be recognised as the seat of the High Court until Bhisho is ready, he said that the Grahamstown High Court is far ahead in terms of infrastructure and therefore Bhisho would need to be upgraded.
He said that this amount still needs to be confirmed once there is a meeting with the court area manager and the court manager of Bhisho. Attorney Brin Brody enquired as to what the real reason for the move was, saying that 2003 “all the judges of the Eastern Cape division met under the Chairmanship of the then Chief Justice, Justice Chaskalson (on the instruction of the then Minister of Justice) and at the meeting it was decided that Grahamstown would remain the seat of the Eastern Cape Division, with jurisdiction over the whole Province and exclusive appeal jurisdiction."
Mguqulwa said he was not in the position to explain this change as Radebe would have the mandate to respond to that shift. The day before, Makana Municipality had invited residents and representatives of Grahamstown organisations to assist in forming a strategy in preparation for their meeting with the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.
Grahamstown High Court Action Committee made presentations on the implications of moving the seat of the High Court such as access to justice and socio-economic implications. The public also shared their strong concerns about this move.
The regional ANC response was that they appreciated the inputs from the community and noted the comments expressed. They said that they do not support the proposed relocation of the seat based on the fact that it could affect people economically.
