State-of-the-art Ntuzuma Magistrate’s Court still empty after two years
THE Ntuzuma Magistrate’s Offices and Court, which cost an estimated R500 million to build, is easily visible from the M25 with its eye-catching, state-of-the-art, grey and black design. But the building stands empty two years after it was completed and there is still no set date for when it will be operational.
The court is part of the ground-breaking R5 billion Bridge City New Town development in the township area of INK (Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu), which includes the Bridge City Mall, flats, government and commercial offices and a 400-bed provincial hospital still to be built.
The court was touted as the answer to swift justice as it would fast-track the backlog of cases at the nearby beleaguered Ntuzuma Magistrate’s Court.
However, Department of Justice and Constitutional Development spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga said minor works were still being finalised by the contractor, which has resulted in the delay of opening the court.
“There are some outstanding matters being attended to by the contractor and national office before the move can take place.
“For instance there is a river that runs under the building, which floods the cells when the underground water pumps are not working. This is being attended to. We are in constant interaction with the contractor and Department of Public Works and we will have a date for moving soon.”
Mhaga said the court would house the family law, civil and sexual offences sections.
“We understand that there is insufficient space in the current building due to the increase in staff members and workload. The building was also vandalised and a fire broke out. But once the move takes place, all the space at the new court will be used.”
Johann Krog, DA provincial spokesman for finance and economic development, said it was outrageous that the stateof-the-art building was standing empty.
“It cost about R500m to build and it’s gathering dust. There is a need for the court to be up and running as the (old) court is under pressure.”
He said the new court did not have furniture, staff or the necessary recording equipment.
“We are unable to get answers because it is a national, not provincial, matter. There is a shortage of courts and yet this one stands empty. It is a complete waste of government resources,” he said.
The court comprises three storeys and has a lower basement with holding cells. It was built between February 2010 and August 2011.
The Sunday Tribune visited the two neighbouring courts this week and the disparaging differences were evident.
While the new court was very quiet with only the occasional vehicle driven through the newly built road as a thoroughfare to the nearby mall, the old court was a hive of activity.
There is ample parking at the new court, with a parking lot inside the premises and numerous parking bays near the court.
It was manned by three security officers sitting behind locked gates. One guard sat slouched in his chair with his shoes off, reading a newspaper.
Zandile Ncube of KwaMashu, who was weeding the garden at the court, said she starting cleaning up the garden last month as she was told the court would be opening soon, although she hadn’t seen anyone or furniture being brought into the building.
Meanwhile, a few kilometres away, the Ntuzuma Magistrate’s Court lies in a state of disrepair.
There is limited parking inside, where cars park on the grass and gravel. Many cars were parked haphazardly on the gravel along the single lane leading to the court.
Food stalls were scattered along the street, with one budding entrepreneur selling hot meals out of the back of her van.
The court building itself consists of four single-storey buildings facing each other, with a grass quad in the centre.
One gains entry to the building through a dark, narrow passage, and must pass through a metal detector.
A guard said he had heard they would be moving to the new court next month, but added wearily that he had heard this promise before.
A woman attending court who did not want to be named said she hoped it would move as there were constant delays at the court.