Question NW3022 to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
13 October 2023 - NW3022
Breytenbach, Adv G to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
In light of the fact that the Potchefstroom Magistrates Court has been unusable for well over a year, after the roof collapsed and portions of the building were condemned and noting that the court is meant to serve not only Potchefstroom, but also all surrounding areas and the Circuit Court (details furnished), what has he precisely done to (a) ensure that the sorry state of affairs is attended to and (b) expedite the obviously essential repairs?
Reply:
a) Attached is the mitigating operational plan of the court see Annexure (A).
b) The roof members – trusses, rafters, brandering etc. had decayed and this led to the collapse of the roof. The roof was not part of the original contractor’s scope of work for the repairs onsite.
The collapsed roof specification is now part of the scope of work which will be executed through a variation order. The variation order has since been approved on the 08 September 2023 by the DPWI and the contractor is currently on site undertaking remedial repairs.
REPLY:
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OBJECTIVE |
ACTIVITIES |
TARGET DATE |
PROGRESS (Daily) |
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Interim Court sittings arrangements |
Daily court sittings |
ongoing |
There are Daily Court sitting Court clerks are preparing the court rolls daily, and supplied to the
01. Town Hall (JB Marks) 2 halls converted to 2 court rooms :District and Regional Court sitting no in-custody inmates ) 02. Ikageng Court : Criminal District and Family, Civil 03. Ventersdorp : Proceeds with normal Periodical Court & Regional court 2 sitting @ Ventersdorp 04. Children’s Court and adjacent judicial boardroom : Children’s Court Domestic Violence and harassment : Maintenance (Family Court and Civil)
05. High Court (Potchefstroom) : District Criminal Court (Prisoners awaiting trial/ custody inmates) :Regional Criminal Court (Prisoners awaiting trial Custody inmates) : Bail applications(Formal and Informal) : First appearances and new cases : Prioritised cases in custody awaiting trials JB Marks Traffic Court- Traffic cases held at the court on Tuesday and Friday |
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Virtual setup for postponements |
On the 6th September 2023 Meeting was held with Correctional Services for the possibility to have virtual court sitting (MS Teams) for awaiting trial detainees. Office space has been provided; Matter tabled to the management meeting, support staff and DEEC meeting. All parties gave their blessings Logistics needed identified; Laptop- to Utilise current ACM laptop and data application made for a pool phone |
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Court Roll |
Outstanding Criminal roll as at 31 August 2023 |
On going |
District Court 21.15% backlog
Regional Court 46.8 backlog
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OBJECTIVE |
ACTIVITIES |
TARGET DATE |
PROGRESS (Daily) |
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Facilities management: |
Movement of staff from the offices with mould Occupation of the available space on the 2nd floor Office space occupied by DOJ in the building Increase scope of work within the existing project - variation order approval |
Completed Completed On going On going |
7 Officials were moved from the ground floor to the 2nd floor. 3 Regional Magistrates,3 district court Magistrates, 7 prosecutors, intermediary and ACM including support staff moved to the 2nd floor( renovated area) Part of ground floor(not yet renovated) 1st floor( not yet renovated) 2nd floor( renovated)2 court rooms created at the Town Hall The variation order was approved by the DPWI variation order committee on 08 September 2023. The construction of the roof commenced on the 11 September 2023. The contractor is currently busy removing the damaged roof and has ordered the new roof trusses to re-roof the building as of 15 September 2023 |