Role Of Dikgosi In The Criminal Justice System: A Way Forward

Seemingly the majority of this exclusive club that its membership is acquired mainly through "accident of birth" has a feeling that the government is tempering with their "God given powers". If indeed it is the intention of the government to do that then I wish to register my disappointment with the concerned minister for having not done enough in such an initiative mainly in the areas of criminal jurisdiction of dikgosi.

Section 12 of The Customary Courts Act CAP 04:05 established the criminal jurisdiction of customary courts, which is giving them immense power of conducting criminal trials and the power to deprive accused persons the freedom by imposing custodial sentences. It needs to be noted that customary courts are mainly manned by dikgosi who are not required to posses any legal qualification or any other rather than being born in the right family.