Justice system helps to raise stock-theft

Mazwiduma said in an interview with Mmegi yesterday that criminals prefer to be tried by the magistrates courts because they are aware that their cases will take a long time to be completed.

"They know that during that period when the trial is not heard, exhibits being cattle or goats die. It is costly for us to take care of them, while they are in our custody. The justice system must be overhauled and the pace that these cases are handled must be increased," he said. Mazwiduma revealed that there are only two magistrates in Selebi-Phikwe responsible for handling cases from six police stations in the district. He said a stock-theft magistrate must be appointed for the district because the current magistrates are not coping with the workload.