Chief Justice calls for legal aid

ISAIAH MOREWAGAE
Staff Writer | Friday July 23, 2010 00:00

'The time has come for this country to interrogate whether an effective legal aid funded by the taxpayers should not be put in place by parliament which would go a long way in ensuring justice for all our people,' Dibotelo said.

Dibotelo said after assuming office in February 2010, he engaged Tsa Badiri Consultancy to advise on the implementation of government's resolution to institutes a study into the alignment of salaries and conditions of service of the magistrates with those of judges.

Dibotelo pointed out that the consultancy has submitted the report, which he has since given to the committee of the magistrate for their comments.  'I am now formulating my final comments and recommendations which I shall forward to the government shortly for consideration. I am also looking into issues pertaining to the conditions of service for Court Reporters and Clerk of Court,' Dibotelo said.

He reminded conference delegates that last year's judicial conference adopted a code of conduct for judicial officers. 'I must stress and remind you that this code is binding on all of us from the Chief Justice Magistrate Grade III and you are expected to observe and abide by that code,' Dibotelo said.

Dibotelo pointed out that copies of the code of conduct will also be made available to members of the public through the Registrar of the High Court. Dibotelo applauded judges of the High Court for the success of the judicial case management system.  'The same cannot be said of the judicial case management at the magistrates courts,' Dibotelo said. He said administration of justice is still in the process of drafting the new rules of the magistrates court so as to accommodate judicial case management.

'Justice Letsididi, who heads the committee that is working on the rules has submitted his final report to me which is now being considered before final approval and implementation in the magistrates courts,' Dibotelo said.

For her part, the Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Lesego Motsumi, said the judiciary has maintained its independence as well as it's impartiality and has unequivocally interpreted all laws which are passed by the legislature as and when the need arose.

Motsumi pointed out that as government they are committed to supporting the judiciary in its endeavours to promote democracy through dispensation of justice which is arrived at through well thought out judgments which help in settling disputes as intractable nature.

'I have no doubt that an independent and accountable judiciary is vital for any country to adhere to democratic values and principles of justice,' Motsumi said.

She stressed that it is a well-known fact that any shadow of doubt on the independence of the judiciary will seriously compromise the rule of law and give way to anarchy.