Temporary magistrates to tackle backlog

MERJA IILEKA at OSHAKATI ATTORNEY General and Justice Minister Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana says the lack of permanent magistrates at courts has resulted in a backlog of cases that can no longer be tolerated.

Speaking at the launch of the Temporary Magistrates Programme in Oshakati on Thursday, Iivula-Ithana said an investigation into the affairs of magistrate’s courts by an inter-ministerial committee brought to light the “shocking reality” of the situation. The current backlog in magistrate’s courts in 17 towns stood at 11 934 cases, Iivula-Ithana said.Oshakati had the most serious backlog of 4 029 trail-awaiting cases.”It was on the basis of these findings that Government made money available from the Contingency Fund to the Ministry of Justice to recruit temporary magistrates to specifically deal with the backlog of cases,” said Iivula-Ithana.The Justice Ministry has appointed eight magistrates on a two-year temporary contract to reduce the backlog.”It is my belief that these magistrates will rotate throughout the country at every station where there are cases outstanding and every effort must be made to live up to this understanding because these officials are recruited for that particular purpose,” the Minister said.Minister of Safety and Security Peter Tsheehama pledged his support for the programme, saying the initiative was long overdue.”The remedy you have come up with will definitely lead to our people once again having faith in our justice system,” said Tsheehama.The temporary magistrates underwent a five-day training programme in Windhoek in May.The current backlog in magistrate’s courts in 17 towns stood at 11 934 cases, Iivula-Ithana said.Oshakati had the most serious backlog of 4 029 trail-awaiting cases.”It was on the basis of these findings that Government made money available from the Contingency Fund to the Ministry of Justice to recruit temporary magistrates to specifically deal with the backlog of cases,” said Iivula-Ithana.The Justice Ministry has appointed eight magistrates on a two-year temporary contract to reduce the backlog.”It is my belief that these magistrates will rotate throughout the country at every station where there are cases outstanding and every effort must be made to live up to this understanding because these officials are recruited for that particular purpose,” the Minister said.Minister of Safety and Security Peter Tsheehama pledged his support for the programme, saying the initiative was long overdue.”The remedy you have come up with will definitely lead to our people once again having faith in our justice system,” said Tsheehama.The temporary magistrates underwent a five-day training programme in Windhoek in May.