Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi experienced first-hand some of the challenges faced in gaining access to court and other legal services, when, along with Deputy Minister Andries Nel and DG Doctor Mashabane, she visited the Johannesburg Master’s Office and the Kempton Park and Thembisa Magistrate’s Courts on Friday. On arrival at the Johannesburg Master’s office, they were met by frustrated people in a long queue outside, with no service being rendered as there was a power outage. TimesLIVE notes the Minister’s visit was aimed at enhancing access to justice, improving service delivery and addressing operational challenges through engagement with stakeholders, court officials and the public.
Some of the officials at the Master’s office complained that outages usually affect the water supply, which makes it difficult for them to work. Officials in one of the units told Kubayi their online system was extremely slow during the day which had prompted them to start work as early as 7am. Elsa Wloschowsky, an attorney, said the Minister’s visit gave her an opportunity to raise her frustration about the office. ’You drive, you reserve the morning to come to this office and the next thing you can’t get in the building because of the electricity,’ she said. She said she had suggested to the Minister that the administration of estates should be simplified and either solar panels or a generator installed. Kubayi said she would be reaching out to the Minister of Public Works about providing a backup generator.
Source:LegalBrief