The Minister said that the appointments were an important step in capacitating judicial officers and courts so as to enable them to deliver justice to all.
A NEW regional magistrate has been appointed for the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court.
The Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola, announced on Tuesday that 29 regional magistrates had been appointed for various regional divisions across the country.
Their appointment is effective from September 1, 2020.
The minister appoints magistrates in respect of the lower courts after consultation with the Magistrates Commission.
According to Chrispin Phiri, spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services, the appointments will enhance diversity in the courts in terms of both race and gender, with 58% of the appointments being women (17 women and 12 men) and 75% being African.
“Of the 29 appointments, 22 are African, two are coloured, one Indian and four white.”
The appointments are for the following courts: Soweto (GP), Brits (NW), Tlhabane (NW), Moretele (NW), Bloemhof (NW), Taung (NW), Rustenburg (NW), Kimberley (NC), Thohoyandou (LP), Mhala (MP), eMkhondo (MP), Worcester (WC), Oudtshoorn (WC), four for Port Elizabeth (EC), Mdantsane (EC), Mthatha (EC), Bloemfontein (FS), Heilbron (FS), Kroonstad (FS), two for Durban (KZN), Verulam (KZN), Port Shepstone (KZN), Pietermaritzburg (KZN), Umzimkulu (KZN), Vryheid (KZN).
Lamola said on Tuesday that the appointments were an important step in capacitating judicial officers and courts so as to enable them to deliver justice to all.
“Our magistrate’s courts are where most people encounter the justice system for the first time, and thus for many the magistrate’s courts embody the justice system. If the magistrate’s courts work well, it builds trust and confidence in the justice system. At a time when we are facing challenges in our courts due to the realities of Covid-19, the appointment of these regional magistrates will increase capacity and help to optimise service delivery in our courts,” he said.
