Issued by: Ministry of Justice
MEDIA RELEASE BY THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, DR A M OMAR MP, WITH REGARD TO FURTHER INITIATIVES TO TRANSFORM THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE.
The Minister of Justice, Dr A M Omar MP, today held a meeting with representatives of Business against Crime (BAC) to consider ways in which BAC can assist the Department to upgrade courts and to improve their functioning. BAC indicated at the meeting that they had decided to contribute meaningfully to bolster the functioning of courts and the prosecution authority.
BAC indicated that it would endeavour to make resources available country-wide, where possible, to assist the Department to combat crime more effectively through, inter alia:
A task team consisting of representatives of BAC, the Department, the Attorneys-General and the Magistracy, under the direction of Mr H Ebrahim, Deputy Director-General; Corporate Services at the Department of Justice, will now conduct a thorough needs assessment - based on priority requirements - throughout the Department and the various provinces. After this a co-ordinated approach to tackle the requirements will be decided on. It is trusted that the joint enterprise will enhance the capacity of the department to improve the functioning of courts which will help to make South Africa a safer place for all.
The Minister expressed his appreciation for the continuous efforts by BAC to contribute in a meaningful way to the transformation process so as to create model courts and through joint efforts by all sectors of society impact positively on the lives of all who come into contact with the justice system, thereby promoting the main objective of the Department, namely "justice for all".
ISSUED BY THE CHIEF DIRECTORATE: COMMUNICATIONS, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, ON BEHALF OF MINISTER OMAR PRETORIA 16 JULY 1997 ENQUIRIES: PAUL SETSETSE: Tel: 012 - 323 8581/2; Cell: 0832524770