Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola and Public Works Minister Sihle Zikalala.
Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola gave birth to delight to Limpopo communities after officially launching the newly refurbished Polokwane Magistrate Court.
Minister Lamola, accompanied by Public Works Minister Sihle Zikala, Deputy Director General Corporate Services at the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development Conny Mametja, members of the Judiciary, stakeholders from the Justice Crime Prevention and Security Cluster (JCPS), community leaders, and ordinary members of the community.
This remarkable court, symbolized a new era of justice and accessibility.
As part of the department’s mandate to ensure that the masses have access to services, Lamola and his administration ensured the Polokwane Magistrate Court, which was destroyed by fire on October 19, 2012, is reinvigorated and enhanced without trepidation.
The reconstruction of the court, at a cost of R82.8 million, commenced on the 16th of October 2019 and was completed on the 7th of March 2023.
The new Polokwane Magistrate Court is not just a building; it's a beacon of hope, rising from the ashes of its predecessor, to serve the community and ensure that justice is accessible to all.
Minister Lamola said: “The establishment of courts in a province like Limpopo symbolizes not just the geographical reach of justice, but also the unwavering spirit of a people once marginalized. It's a celebration of newfound rights—the freedom to love, to move, and to learn—rights that are now woven into the very fabric of the nation's identity. As the shadow of apartheid recedes with each passing year, the commitment to dismantle its legacy through equitable justice grows stronger, ensuring that the courts stand as beacons of safety and humanity for all.”
He also added that a lot still has to be done to ensure that justice should not be an abstract ideal but a tangible reality for all, regardless of one's social standing.
“So, advocating for improved access to justice aligns with the pursuit of a more equitable society, where the law is not an instrument of the elite but the defender of the masses. We will continue to ensure that the legal system evolves and becomes more responsive to the needs of the people it serves, and to embody the democratic ethos it is meant to represent. For in the end, a society's moral progress can be judged by the way it administers justice, and true democracy is realized only when justice is accessible to every citizen,” Minister Lamola said during his key note address.
“In the spirit of the Batho Pele Principles, I want to emphasize the importance of putting people first, it is crucial to recognize the profound responsibility that court officials and justice service workers hold.
The government's presence is not confined to the walls of distant administrative buildings; it is manifested in every interaction between a state representative and a citizen.”
Departmental spokesperson Steve Mahlangu confirmed that the newly rebuilt court premises boast state-of-the-art facilities, including 10 courtrooms (5x Regional Court rooms, 4x District Court rooms, 1x Equality Court room), and 18 holding cells. With a total of 120 parking bays (48 covered parking spaces for Judiciary, NPA, and Administration, and 72 open parking bays for the public and other stakeholders), the court is easily accessible to the public.
Mahlangu also added that the complex also features 57 offices to accommodate all stakeholders, including the Judiciary, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), and Administration. Additionally, court users are provided with spacious waiting rooms equipped with sufficient ablution facilities, ensuring their comfort and convenience.
The Polokwane Magistrates Court services four (4) Police Stations (Seshego, Polokwane, Lebowakgomo and Westenburg SAPS). The population in the Polokwane Local Municipality is about 628,999.
Meanwhile, key security features of the new Polokwane Magistrate Court include:
Victim Friendly Facilities: The court has victim-friendly facilities where children victims can testify through video, thereby ensuring their safety and comfort during legal proceedings. Children are allowed to testify via intermediaries and in a separate room that is designed to provide care and protection to minors.
Audio Visual Remand (AVR) System: The court is fitted with audio-visual technology to allow accused persons to appear in court virtually during remand proceedings. The system assists the criminal justice system to reduce the cost and travel time of moving offenders from correctional facilities to courts.
Enhanced security of court officials: Magistrates and Prosecutors can move into their offices and courtrooms without coming into contact with members of the general public, unless an arrangement for such contact has been made for official purposes.
Uninterrupted Power Supply: Court proceedings will not be disrupted by power interruptions, as backup generators with a fuel capacity of 1500 litres are in place to provide electricity during power disruptions.
Improved Fire Prevention and Fighting Systems: State-of-the-art fire prevention and firefighting systems have been installed in the court, ensuring the safety and security of all users.
In addition to the adjudication of criminal matters, the Polokwane Magistrate Court will provide the following services to the public; maintenance, child justice, domestic violence, sexual offenses, small claims court, wills, deceased estates, and the guardian's fund, trusts, tutors and curators, guardians and custodians and insolvent estates.
Deputy Director General Corporate Services at the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development Conny Mametja.
Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola and Public Works Minister Sihle Zikalala.
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