LSB demands urgent reforms
Pini Bothoko | Wednesday September 10, 2025 13:58
Speaking at the launch of the specialised criminal courts at Broadhurst Magistrate's Court recently, LSB chairperson, Lesedi Moahi, welcomed the establishment of the courts.
However, he stressed that without adequate resources, proper coordination amongst stakeholders, and timely payment of attorneys, the initiative could fail to meet its objectives.
Moahi said the need for specialised courts had been clear for many years, but resources had previously been channelled to less pressing initiatives, including mobile traffic courts and publicising the names of drunk-driving offenders.
“We therefore wish to applaud you, Chief Justice, on this step your administration has taken in its endeavour to eliminate the criminal matters logjam.
“It is a truly welcome development which we would like to urge you to extend to other areas of the law to enhance delivery,” he said.
Concerning delays in paying attorneys handling pro Deo matters, Moahi said the setback undermines their work, noting that such inefficiencies discourage the legal professionals who are otherwise passionate about criminal law.
“To the registrars, let us ensure that attorneys are paid on time. If payments were seamless, more lawyers would willingly take up criminal cases and reduce the backlog,” he said.
He further urged members of the profession to limit unnecessary appearances in court. The LSB chairperson noted that too many appearances translate to a negative effect on the Administration of Justice’s budget and stagnation of matters before the judges.
Furthermore, the LSB also proposed reforms beyond criminal justice. Moahi urged the Judiciary to consider short-term judicial appointments for civil cases, particularly motion courts.
Under the proposed model, he said the practising attorneys could be engaged on one- to two-month contracts, allowing them to assist in clearing backlogs before returning to their private practice.
“This will not only help lighten the workload of substantive judges but will also serve as a training ground for future judicial appointments and even senior attorneys at the bar could be considered for acting appointments,” Moahi said.
Meanwhile, he also raised concern about the long delays in finalising estates at the Master’s Office, describing the situation as a sore thumb.
He revealed that some estates registered as far back as the early 2000s remain unresolved.
“Meetings for newly registered estates are set many months from the date of registration. This prolongs winding up of the estate and births disputes among family members,” he said.
Moreover, LSB urged the Administration of Justice to prioritise finding sustainable solutions to estate backlogs, warning that delays risked fuelling family conflicts and undermining public trust in the system.