MORE than 14 years after much-needed improvements were first given the green light, the Humansdorp Magistrate\u2019s Court is yet to be upgraded.<\/p>\n
Plans to upgrade this facility \u2013 which poses a health and safety hazard to court personnel, as well as the general public \u2013 have been dragging on since 2006.<\/p>\n
The building falls under the National Department of Public works.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was shocked at its dilapidated state,\u201d says Samantha Graham-Mar\u00e9, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, who recently conducted an oversight inspection at the court.<\/p>\n
She was joined by Sarah Baartman District Municipality Councillor, Henni Britz.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe appalling conditions at the court raise serious concerns around safety and security,\u201d says Graham-Mar\u00e9. \u201cThere is almost no security to speak of and metal detectors are not being used.<\/p>\n
\u201cDangerous weapons have been brought onto the premises by the public in the past.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to her, up to 60 suspects are kept in smallholding cells and the open toilets provided are regularly out of order.<\/p>\n
There is furthermore a shortage of toilet facilities for the public and staff.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are no toilets for women visiting the court, and only one for the more than 20 female staff members,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
Other concerns include boxes of important paperwork that are being stored in a building on the premises, no safe and designated area for children who need to testify and no recorder to record interviews.<\/p>\n
The building is also not disability friendly and wheelchair-bound residents need to be carried up the stairs to the entrance of the court building.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not an acceptable professional environment. The lives of magistrates, public prosecutors and court personnel are endangered on a daily basis,\u201d says Graham-Mar\u00e9.<\/p>\n
\u201cUpgrades approved long after those meant for the Humansdorp Magistrate\u2019s Court, have already been executed at the magistrates\u2019 courts in Hankey, Patensie and Joubertina.\u201d<\/p>\n
Graham-Mar\u00e9 will now table the necessary questions in Parliament, as well as direct questions to the Acting Director General of the Department of Public Works, Patricia de Lille.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MORE than 14 years after much-needed improvements were first given the green light, the Humansdorp Magistrate\u2019s Court is yet to be 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