Question NW1668 to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services

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08 June 2022 - NW1668

Profile picture: Horn, Mr W

Horn, Mr W to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services

With reference to the announcement he made in October 2021, detailing the names of the members of the Rationalization Committee with regard to the Republic’s High Courts under the chairpersonship of retired Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke, which was to finalize its report by April 2022, what are the details of (a)(i) all meetings held by the specified committee and (ii) the progress made with the committee’s work and (b) the (i) expenses incurred and (ii) payments made up to date in relation to the committee’s work?

Reply:

a) The Committee on the Rationalisation of Areas and Judicial Establishments of the Division of the High Court of South Africa held the following meetings:

(i) Virtual meeting held on 13 July 2021. Introductory meeting with Deputy Director-General Court Services.

(ii) Virtual meeting held 29 September 2021: Discussion of the draft Road map with the DDG Court Services

(iii) Physical meeting 5 November 2021 at Protea Hotel Fire and Ice, Pretoria: Department’s detailed submission to the Committee outlining the following aspects:

  • The challenges pose by pre-1994 areas of jurisdiction of the high courts; in particular, the Eastern Cape and Gauteng divisions
  • Proposed changes to the current areas of jurisdiction of the high courts; and
  • Proposed additional local seats with a view to increase access to justice.

(iv) It is expected that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ) will present their submission regarding the above, at the date to be confirmed.

(ii) The Committee was expected to submit its Interim Report on or before 15 October 2021 and its final report by 31 December 2021. Subsequent to the presentation by DoJ&CD the Committee then had a sense of the work to be completed and then it was agreed that the Terms of Reference be amended to provide for new dates for submission. In terms of the Committee’s roadmap the OCJ and NPA were supposed to make similar submission to the Committee. There was hesitation from both the OCJ and NPA which derailed the commitments made on the roadmap. The Terms of Reference (ToRs) were thus amended to provide for new dates regarding the submission of reports by the Committee. The dates in the new ToRs were revised to 15 April 2022 for the submission of its Interim Report, and 30 July 2022 for the submission of its Final Report.

b) (i) (ii) Expenses incurred to date

Item

Amount

Venue for meeting (Protea Fire and Ice, Pretoria)

R16 524.00

Accommodation

R4 478.77 (Only done for one members for 2 nights. Others members did not require accommodation)

Flights

R9 233.49 (for 2 members)

Shuttle

R2 732.24

Ten (10) Laptops

R232 387.10

Ten (10) Wi-Fi Routers

R53 880.00

Printers

R56 575.00

Payments to Members of the Committee

R767 103.95

Total

R1 142 914.55

Source file