Bontleng customary court moves into tents
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Tuesday April 29, 2014 11:35
The Urban Customary Court moved from its permanent structures into two tents on April 1 to allow for renovations by the Gaborone City Council.
The situation has created chaos as court president, Dikwalo Monametsi has at times been forced to share a tent with his deputy, Patricia Radipati leading to cases being heard simultaneously. Often it becomes difficult for people to hear or understand each other during such times.
Last week, Monametsi told Mmegi that while an impression was given that the renovations would take a few days, the work had stretched over weeks, inconveniencing processes at the court.
“I suspect that if they don’t complete the renovations soon, they will stretch into the middle of next month or the end of May,” Monametsi said, adding that,
“Re a sokola tota golo fa ka gore ga re bereke sentle e bile matshelo a rona a mo kotsing (we are really suffering because we are not under proper working conditions. Our lives are also in danger)”.
According to Monametsi the relocation to tents has birthed scores of challenges for the court, with harsh winds and rains making productivity impossible.
Court officials and other attendants are also exposed to intense heat in the tents, with no respite in sight.
“It is bad for our health and people just continue because these are their everyday jobs with which they provide for their families,” he said.
“The wind sometimes blows away papers while court bailiffs are writing down cases.
“Furniture is also a challenge as we have nothing to work on.”
The court president said a more ideal solution would have been for the Council to rent out brick and mortar structures for them to continue with cases while renovations are ongoing.