Mqanduli still without court building after fire

FIVE months after the Mqanduli Magistrate’s Court was gutted by fire, Justice and Correctional Services deputy minister John Jeffreys said he was disappointed that temporary structures had yet to be provided.

Authorities had promised temporary structures would be delivered after the court went up in smoke in July, destroying all court documents.

Temporary structures were supposed to be provided in August but they never materialised.

Jeffreys also announced that plans to renovate the Mthatha High Court were afoot, with the touch-up expected to start in February next year.

The deputy minister spoke to the Saturday Dispatch while attending a traditional ceremony in Mqanduli yesterday.

“The court is still currently operating from the back of the police station,” he said.

Jeffreys said that the temporary structures were supposed to have been delivered in August.

Government has not yet decided whether to renovate the burnt facility or demolish it and build a new one, the deputy minister said.

The Association of the Transkei Advocates previously wrote several letters to the justice and public works ministries, pleading with government to renovate the Mthatha High Court.

It complained of leaking roofs, dysfunctional air conditioning systems, damaged roofs and a lack of security facilities.

Jeffreys conceded that the court was due for renovations.

“The situation at the court is bad. Major renovations were undertaken during the time of the Transkei government or even before and there has never been major renovation since the democratic dispensation,” he said.

Speaking about the Mthatha Magistrate’s Court, the deputy minister said government was struggling to get temporary space to accommodate to be used while renovations are under way.

“The place is small and we cannot renovate while the court is still in operation.

“We need a place where we can accommodate our staff.

“The court is also faced with a parking space problem, so it is difficult to work there.

“We are also looking at the possibilities of dividing services, have civil court in another place and criminal court in another. But we have to see what will work,” Jeffreys said. — lulamilef@dispatch.