Grocott's Mail
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Thursday, June 12
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Grocott's Mail
    • NEWS
      • Courts & Crime
      • Features
      • Politics
      • People
      • Health & Well-being
    • SPORT
      • News
      • Results
      • Sports Diary
      • Club Contacts
      • Columns
      • Sport Galleries
      • Sport Videos
    • OPINION
      • Election Connection
      • Makana Voices
      • Deur ‘n Gekleurde Bril
      • Newtown… Old Eyes
      • Incisive View
      • Your Say
    • ARTSLIFE
      • Cue
        • Cue Archives
      • Makana Sharp!
      • Visual Art
      • Literature
      • Food
      • Festivals
      • Community Arts
      • Going Places
    • OUR TOWN
      • What’s on
      • Spiritual
      • Emergency & Well-being
      • Covid-19
      • Safety
      • Civic
      • Municipality
      • Weather
      • Properties
        • Grahamstown Properties
      • Your Town, Our Town
    • OUTSIDE
      • Enviro News
      • Gardening
      • Farming
      • Science
      • Conservation
      • Motoring
      • Pets/Animals
    • ECONOMIX
      • Business News
      • Entrepreneurship
      • Personal Finance
    • EDUCATION
      • Education NEWS
      • Education OUR TOWN
      • Education INFO
    • EDITORIAL
    Grocott's Mail
    You are at:Home»NEWS»Courts & Crime»Final report on Makhanda High Court move delayed until end October
    Courts & Crime

    Final report on Makhanda High Court move delayed until end October

    After two previous extensions, the Minister of Justice has now gazetted another extension
    'OdidiBy 'OdidiMay 30, 2023Updated:May 30, 2023No Comments3 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    The community of Makhanda are pushing back strongly against the government's fifth attempt to forcibly relocate the court to Bisho. Photo: Supplied.

    By ‘Odidi Matai-Sigudla

    The Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola, has gazetted another extension to the final release of the report on the proposed forced relocation of the Makhanda High Court. In November 2022, the Moseneke Commission of Enquiry on the Rationalisation of Courts recommended that the court be relocated to Bisho. Since then, the Department of Justice has been taking submissions from the public. The Commission was supposed to release its final recommendation at the end of April, but Lamola has now granted an extension until 31 October 2023.

    Brin Brody, attorney and senior director of local law firm Wheeldon, Rushmere, and Cole and member of the Makhanda High Court Action Committee (MHCAC), said “it would be pure speculation as to why this has been done. It may be that the Commission has asked for an extension, or the Minister has received the report, and he needs more time to consider.”

    On 28 May, Makana Mayor Yandiswa Vara convened a meeting about the move with Premier Oscar Mabuyane, the Provincial Executive Committee of the ANC, Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, and elected leaders from the district and neighbouring municipalities to meet with the MHCAC and hear their objections. Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor Professor Sizwe Mabizela, attorneys Brody and Mike van der Veen from Wheeldon, Rushmere, and Cole, and attorney Stuart Terr from de Jager Lordan represented the MHCAC.

    From left: Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor, Sizwe Mabizela, and local attorney Brin Brody, speak out against the removal of the Makhanda High Court at a press conference earlier this year. Photo: Sibabalwe Tame.

    “There was meaningful dialogue and fruitful discussion between the High Court Action Committee, the Premier, and Minister Motsoaledi. The relevant facts relevant to the movement of the Seat, the issue of concurrency, and the area of jurisdiction were fully canvassed by our committee,” stated Brody.

    Brody added that the MHCAC had presented its economic impact study at the meeting, which found that Makhanda would lose at least 5 000 jobs if the court was relocated, meaning that 25 000 people who depend on those employees would be left without income. Adopting a multiplier ratio approach, this would be equivalent to the loss of 220 000 jobs, affecting one million dependants in Johannesburg, Brody said.

    While Johannesburg could absorb such a loss because of its economy, Makhanda would not. “Makhanda only has Rhodes University, the private schools, the Municipality, and the High Court as the cornerstones of our local economy,” Brody said.

    Although the topic of the meeting was dire, Brody expressed his gratitude towards Vara for arranging the meeting, to Mabizela for his eloquent address, and to the sub-committee members present.

    Previous ArticleDozens of local kids turn out for Spelling Bee
    Next Article 9/10ths programme participants graduate from Rhodes University
    'Odidi

      Comments are closed.

      Code of Ethics and Conduct
      GROCOTT’S SUBSCRIPTION
      RMR
      Listen to RMR


      Humans of Makhanda

      Humans of Makhanda

      Weather    |     About     |     Advertise     |     Subscribe     |     Contact     |     Support Grocott’s Mail

      © 2025 Maintained by School of Journalism & Media Studies.

      Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.