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MBABANE – Eswatini national courts have been left neglected for too long.
This is the feeling of workers of the courts, who include court presidents, assessors, court clerks and messengers, among others.
The main concern is that these public structures have become a health hazard as they are in a dilapidated state and it has been quite a while since renovations had been carried out.
Employees of these courts requested intervention by the employer during the recent Eswatini National Courts Employees’ Workshop held at Esibayeni Lodge.
There are a total of 18 Eswatini national courts in the kingdom. Three are in Manzini, Mbabane, Pigg’s Peak and Siteki has two while Bhunya, Mankayane, Nkanini, Big Bend, Lubuli, Lomahasha, Hluthi, Hlatikhulu and Nhlangano all have one each.
Toilets
The two Eswatini Courts of Appeal sit at Lozitha and Nkanini. The Higher Eswatini Court of Appeal also sits at Lozitha and the Judicial Commissioner’s Offices are based in Mbabane. Toilets at the Manzini National Court have been described as nothing but a den for hooligans.
Manzini Court Clerk Noxolo Dlamini told attendees of the Eswatini National Courts Employees’ Workshop and the facilitator, Director Human Resources (HR) Mpendulo Mazibuko, that they no longer used the toilets but had to go to public toilets.
She was seeking intervention from government to address the matter as she mentioned that they were in such a poor state to an extent that they attracted hooligans.
“We need help, not very long ago; one of our colleagues was assaulted by a person who seemed mentally unstable. Such people now use the toilets as their shelter and they leave human waste all over the place,” she said.
She also highlighted that the entire structure needed serious attention. Dlamini said another employee injured herself after a cat unexpectedly fell from the collapsing ceiling.
The seats of the courtrooms are said to be in a very poor condition as they are very old and need urgent replacement. In actual fact, employees of the national courts feel government should now construct new structures for Manzini as it has been the case with the capital city.
Two Minutes Shongwe, Court President of the Mbabane National Court said they were pleased to see that a number of Eswatini national courts were under construction. He said even though he might not be entirely sure of all the structures that were being built, he could count a few, which included one in Mankayane, Pigg’s Peak and Buhleni.
“I cannot be entirely sure why they chose to start by constructing the nicely built two national courts here in Mbabane. Building court structures is very important to maintain a good image and trust of the courts by the people we service,” said the court president.
Shongwe added that if things went according to his wishes, new national courts could have been built in all the four regions of the country. He urged Director of Eswatini National Courts and Culture, Prince Bukhosi and his administration, to ensure that new national courts were built and those that needed rehabilitation were given the necessary attention.
Congestion
“We understand that everything needs money and funds are limited but the truth of the matter is that the national courts are not enough with the rapidly increasing number of cases. Imagine the congestion at Pigg’s Peak National Court where they have to hear cases from Buhleni, Horo, Nkhaba and Bulembu among other nearby places, people end up spending the whole day at the courts,” he said.
The offices of Judicial Commissioner
Hhansense Dlamini are also a health hazard.
The offices of the commissioner are housed in an old structure and are in a dilapidated state as it has been a while since renovations were carried out.
He recently indicated that his offices were not the only place that was a health hazard in the structure of the Eswatini national courts.
He said the situation of his offices was similar to that of Eswatini national courts buildings in Bhunya, Manzini, Mankayane and Siteki to mention just a few.
He said: “At the same time, we appreciate the construction of new Eswatini national courts in Mbabane; the court is nicely built and conducive for work.”
The commissioner added that it was sad when the public and colleagues came for help at his offices only to find them in a horrible state.
He thanked the King’s Office Director Human Resources (HR) Mpendulo Mazibuko for his assurance recently during the workshop that their issues would be prioritised and addressed soon.