Justice and Constitutional Development hosted strategic review

Department of Justice and Constitutional Development hosted strategic review

1 June 2010

Department of Justice and Constitutional Development hosted strategic review workshop on 25 to 26 May 2010 at Mmabatho Palms. The workshop was attended by Exco members, Area Court Managers, Court Managers, Masters Office and Judiciary. The workshop focused mainly on challenges hindering services and how best to address those challenges.

North West Regional Head Tsietsi Malema said strategic reviews were important because “They serve as barometers or mirrors for us to judge our performance. We will continue to have these types of sessions as they enable us to come up with ideas of how best can we address challenges faced by the department in the region. “Managers should make it a point that they relate with their staff and should share information” he said.

The Regional Head also commended managers and staff in courts who are committed to serve people, especially in rural areas, with pride and dedication. He also acknowledged efforts done in speeding up maintenance payout. It is important not to disappoint our maintenance beneficiaries.

“I must point out that we need to continue coming up with interventions to get maintenance payment right; we can’t afford to disappoint our maintenance beneficiaries. We need to up our gears to take our services to greater heights as the region” he said

The Regional Head also used opportunity during a gala dinner to wish Honourable Judge President Monica Leeuw luck for her elevation to Judge President .The gala dinner was organised as part of interacting with departmental stakeholders such as Legal Aid South Africa, Prosecution, and Public Protector, and to share ways of dealing with challenges hindering service delivery. “It is important to interact with our stakeholders so that they can show us our pitfalls, so as to improve, Criminal Justice System is Complex” he said

Mr Mothusi Khumalo of Legal Aid South Africa in Mafikeng acknowledged positive support they receive from the Department of Justice and Constitutional. “I can say we are ready to provide our services during the FIFA World Cup 2010, we received the critical funding we needed” he said

Advocate Simon Motshegare, Public Protector Manager applauded the department for interventions done to deal with maintenance payments.

“We have received series of complaints from maintenance beneficiaries, some date back to 2008 and I am happy to hear that the department is doing something to curb these complaints, we need to work together during public education to educate our community members” he said

Maintenance beneficiary Ms Veronica Majola also applauded staff members who are committed to assist maintenance beneficiaries at courts and advised the department to improve their systems.

“Some of us rely heavily on these monies to put food on the table, unfortunately despite commitment, dedication displayed by officials at courts, in most cases we are let down by the system, sometimes we are told that the system is down” she said

Ms Glenice Nkotsoe, Director Court Operations encouraged Area Court Managers, Court Managers and supervisors at courts to continue providing services to community members.

You are the face of this department; hence your behaviour is critical when interacting with community members at our courts. The public judge us on the services we provide at courts, hence your display of Batho Pele Principles is acknowledged” she said

Media enquiries:
Mr Isaac Mokaila
Tel: 018 389 83 55
Cell: 073 742 39 06

Issued by: Department of Justice and Constitutional Development
1 June 2010