Speech by Premier Dipuo Peters at the occasion of the sod turning ceremony of the Galeshewe Magistrate Court, Galeshewe

Programme Director
Regional Head of Justice, Mr RD Isaacs
Area Court Manager, Ms Caroline Melamane
All magistrates present
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Friends and comrades

The Provincial Government of the Northern Cape is particularly pleased to mark the construction of a court that will provide justice services to the people of Galeshewe as well as the surrounding areas i.e. Roodepan, Homestead, Northview, Homelite and Homevale.

Today hopefully marks a significant step towards improved delivery of justice services in the area of our province, especially for children and women. Today's event and this initiative are tangible demonstration of the continuous and determined efforts by government to improve access to justice services for all sectors of our democratic society, especially the poor, vulnerable and marginalised.

The lack of access to justice is a consequence of the historical legacy of building courts in traditional white areas and cities. Some of the steps we have taken to remedy this malady consisted of inter alia, building more court buildings within communities where the need is more acute and urgent. This one is a first in the Northern Cape and forms part of the extended public works programme and the urban renewal project that was announced by the President.

This magnificent project is in line with our noble commitment to further enhancing our ability to bring justice and much needed services closer to more and more people as they will no longer have to travel to town to access services such as maintenance and family violence that plagues our society.

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is therefore, fitting that, the sod turning ceremony for the Galeshewe Magistrate's Court marks our continued dedication to reaching an ever-increasing mass of our people and it is an important milestone in our development of court models that speed up and streamline government services.

This day marks a significant day in the delivery of justice in the province of the Northern Cape. Today's event and the initiative are a solid demonstration of permanent and resolute efforts by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and Government to provide quick, effective and efficient justice to all members of our society.

This facility will be a key component in our quest to tackle crime and especially rape and violence head-on in Galeshewe and the surrounding areas.

Through the building of this magistrate court, we are taking another major step forward to deal more effectively with the scourge of child molestations, rape and women abuse, to stamp out crime and gangsterism in our communities.

I am confident and encouraged that that after its opening the Court will make a real contribution of much-needed community infrastructure, by providing special courts in the form of specific sexual offences and children's courts. Dealing with child maintenance and family matters in addition to criminal and civil matters, it will also be accessible and user-friendly for disabled people and vulnerable groups like women and children.

Government recognises as important and encourages the full participation of civil society in service delivery. Our success over the last years in forging lasting partnerships has provided us with some positive indicators. These partnerships have become valuable in enhancing prevention initiatives, awareness campaigns and reporting rates in term of violence and crime.

Ladies and gentlemen, we can never emphasise enough the importance of community involvement in government projects that have a direct bearing on our society. Community involvement is vital if this court facility and those who work in them are to fulfil their role. This kind of facility on their own cannot ensure that justice is fully dispensed and accessible to all communities.

The quality and commitment of magistrates is very high. We need to keep it that way. The work, whilst it has its frustrations, is very worthwhile.

The Magistrates' Court is vital in demonstrating to the community the virtues of the criminal justice system, hence the construction of the local magistrate court. Those virtues are threefold:

That it is fair, to the defendant but also to victims and to witnesses. People's views of the justice system are based on their own personal experience of the courts, or of their friends and family, and the experience of a witness or a victim is very important in keeping a good public perception of and confidence in, the justice system.

It has to be effective in dealing with the problems before it. People must see that the justice system is good at what it does.

The Magistrates' Courts must be seen to understand the community which it serves. There must be a real connection with the community whose crimes and whose family issues you deal with. Your communities want to be confident that you know what the problems are. I think that the public does not necessarily expect courts to be brutal but they do want to know that the courts understand their local problems and are acting effectively.

So, these three principles: fairness, effectiveness and understanding have to be reflected in everything that we do.

At this point, I would like to request the communities around these court facilities to embrace it and make it their business to ensure that they serve the people of this area and surrounds. Be vigilant and active participants to ensure that they provide the services that they are supposed to and in accordance to the values of our Constitution.

I wish to congratulate the national and provincial departments and other stakeholders that are involved in bringing to fruition this project, of the Galeshewe magistrate court.

I thank you

Issued by: Office of the Premier, Northern Cape Provincial Government
4 October 2007