Date: 01/04/2005
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government
Title: Mhlahlo: Launch of the Uitenhage IJCC
Safety Liaison and Transport MEC, Thobile Mhlahlo’s speech at the launch of the Uitenhage IJCC
In the recent past, Uitenhage was one of the most notorious areas in the Province, with the cases of crimes against women and children dominating the local courts rolls.
Today, we are demonstrating our seriousness as various government departments and the private sector to deal with any deficiencies within our criminal justice system.
Last week, the criminal justice system in this province was criticised by the media of failing to effectively deal with crimes against children.
The delays within our system have been detrimental to the success of the courts to finalise cases on time. This becomes extremely painful, when cases involve children, who become emotionally abused by these delays.
We discussed this matter extensively in Cabinet this week in an attempt to find effective remedial measures to avert this scourge.
Our discussion ended in a mutual view that all government departments should play a role in ensuring that our children and women, particularly in rural areas are living in an environment full of Peace, Security and Comfort, as they demanded through the Freedom Charter.
As we celebrate the Human Rights Month (March) and the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Charter, we need to enhance our strategy of dealing with lawlessness through integration and coordination of our programmes as both the public and private sectors.
The concept of Integrated Justice System, which we adopted as government and launched in this Nelson Mandela Metro five (5) years ago, should give impetus to our broad strategy in this area and the province as a whole.
Of course, the government cannot initiate these programmes alone without the involvement of the communities through the establishment of the Integrated Justice System Boards.
2005 has been declared as a year of popularising all mechanisms for democratic participation at local level.
I am happy to note that Uitenhage has already established its Integrated Justice System Board and through its strategic intervention, this centre became the Performance Champion in the large court category from January to July 2004.
We are aware of the challenges that are still faced by this institution.
* Insufficient hours to speed up cases
* Outstanding cases, which are more than 180 days, must be reduced
* Reduction of outstanding cases on the roll
* Reduction of case preparation cycle time
* Reduction of cases for further investigation
* Institutionalisation of IJS into the Provincial Criminal Justice Forum structure to ensure the successful functioning of the forum
* Need for additional staff to implement the Awaiting Trial Detainees’ Project.
As government, we do not have sufficient resources to deal with these challenges. Hence we need partners.
Business Against Crime has already paved way for other stakeholders to come forward.
We cannot fold arms when our people are victimised by individuals with no value for life.
After 10 years of freedom, South African cannot afford to compromise the restored dignity of our people, especially of women and children.
In the Uitenhage area this year, we will build victim support centres at KwaNobuhle and Kamesh police stations, to provide counselling to the abused women and children, when making statements to the police.
This forms part of our European Union – funded five-year programme to support policing of crimes against women and children in the Eastern Cape.
In conclusion, I would like to call upon all organs of civil society to join forces with us to ensure that no more shall we have delays that undermine the integrity of our criminal justice system.
It is when we act to together in a “People’s Contract” that we can be able to restore the dignity of our criminal justice system.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Safety Liaison and Transport, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
1 April 2005
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ecprov.gov.za)
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government
Title: Mhlahlo: Launch of the Uitenhage IJCC
Safety Liaison and Transport MEC, Thobile Mhlahlo’s speech at the launch of the Uitenhage IJCC
In the recent past, Uitenhage was one of the most notorious areas in the Province, with the cases of crimes against women and children dominating the local courts rolls.
Today, we are demonstrating our seriousness as various government departments and the private sector to deal with any deficiencies within our criminal justice system.
Last week, the criminal justice system in this province was criticised by the media of failing to effectively deal with crimes against children.
The delays within our system have been detrimental to the success of the courts to finalise cases on time. This becomes extremely painful, when cases involve children, who become emotionally abused by these delays.
We discussed this matter extensively in Cabinet this week in an attempt to find effective remedial measures to avert this scourge.
Our discussion ended in a mutual view that all government departments should play a role in ensuring that our children and women, particularly in rural areas are living in an environment full of Peace, Security and Comfort, as they demanded through the Freedom Charter.
As we celebrate the Human Rights Month (March) and the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Charter, we need to enhance our strategy of dealing with lawlessness through integration and coordination of our programmes as both the public and private sectors.
The concept of Integrated Justice System, which we adopted as government and launched in this Nelson Mandela Metro five (5) years ago, should give impetus to our broad strategy in this area and the province as a whole.
Of course, the government cannot initiate these programmes alone without the involvement of the communities through the establishment of the Integrated Justice System Boards.
2005 has been declared as a year of popularising all mechanisms for democratic participation at local level.
I am happy to note that Uitenhage has already established its Integrated Justice System Board and through its strategic intervention, this centre became the Performance Champion in the large court category from January to July 2004.
We are aware of the challenges that are still faced by this institution.
* Insufficient hours to speed up cases
* Outstanding cases, which are more than 180 days, must be reduced
* Reduction of outstanding cases on the roll
* Reduction of case preparation cycle time
* Reduction of cases for further investigation
* Institutionalisation of IJS into the Provincial Criminal Justice Forum structure to ensure the successful functioning of the forum
* Need for additional staff to implement the Awaiting Trial Detainees’ Project.
As government, we do not have sufficient resources to deal with these challenges. Hence we need partners.
Business Against Crime has already paved way for other stakeholders to come forward.
We cannot fold arms when our people are victimised by individuals with no value for life.
After 10 years of freedom, South African cannot afford to compromise the restored dignity of our people, especially of women and children.
In the Uitenhage area this year, we will build victim support centres at KwaNobuhle and Kamesh police stations, to provide counselling to the abused women and children, when making statements to the police.
This forms part of our European Union – funded five-year programme to support policing of crimes against women and children in the Eastern Cape.
In conclusion, I would like to call upon all organs of civil society to join forces with us to ensure that no more shall we have delays that undermine the integrity of our criminal justice system.
It is when we act to together in a “People’s Contract” that we can be able to restore the dignity of our criminal justice system.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Safety Liaison and Transport, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
1 April 2005
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ecprov.gov.za)
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