Justice and Constitutional Development Portfolio Committee

1. Justice and Constitutional Development Portfolio Committee Presentation by Adv. S Jiyane, DDG Court Services 11 March 2005

2. Presentation overview Court Services • Budgetary aspects: • New and additional budget • Budget review process • Linking budget to strategy: • Access; Transformation; and Modernisation • Cluster alignment (JCPS/Social/other) • Achievements • Priorities for 2005 • Conclusion

3. BUDGETARY ASPECTS • New and Additional Budget • ENE • High level breakdown • Court Services Projects

4. Budget (cont) • Joint Budget Task Team – Budget review process • Terms of Reference: Mandate to analyse adequacy of budget vis-à-vis strategy • Impact on Court Services (HR; Rationalisation courts; Transformation of judiciary; Transfer of Magistracy salaries; Modernisation; Re aga Boswa)

5. Budget (cont) • Linking budget to strategy: • Access; Transformation; and Modernisation • Court Services dealing with the above through 5 Programmes: • Strategy/Policy • Performance • Vulnerable Groups • Facility/Infrastructure Management • Family Advocacy

6. Cluster alignment • JCPS • 169 Contact Crime priority stations / 21 dev nodes • Overcrowding prisons/ children • Development Committee: JCPS national/ provincial/ local fora • JCPS – CJS Review • Social Cluster • Social crime prevention

7. Achievements • Rationalisation of the High courts The principles in the Superior Courts Bill are to be debated at upcoming colloquium in April 2005 • Re-demarcation of Magisterial Districts The proposed re-demarcation of the nine provinces will be submitted to the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development for proclamation by the end of the current financial year. Cross boundary aspects will be aligned with the Mun Demarc Board’s activities.

8. Achievement’s cont • Re Aga Boswa • The project has concluded its testing phase in KZN • Blueprint is in place for roll out in the other Provinces. Gauteng, WC and FS will feature in the current roll out phase. • Strengthening of Office of the CJ • Access in relation to community needs/ demographics and court clustering

9. Achievement’s cont • Modernisation Programme • IT: A major exercise providing nearly 10,000 judges, magistrates, prosecutors and administrative personnel with such equipment has been completed. (now nearly 10,000 people within the administration of justice that have e-mail addresses and internet connectivity). For the courts impact are around: • E-Scheduler (46 ICFM Centres and roll out) • Video postponements (piloting KZN) • JDAS/ Maintenance • Court Nerve Centre

10. Achievement’s cont. • Broad Transformation Initiatives • Human Resource Development Strategy • Pool from which women and black practitioners can be prepared for appointment to the bench • Professionalizing court support services through learner ships and skills programmes including improving interpreter services • Capacitating Family courts and Family advocacy • Restructuring of the Justice College • Development of a language policy for courts to promote the use of African languages in court proceedings • Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms to ensure public participation in dispute resolution processes

11. Achievement’s cont. • Case Flow Management • CFM Technology is used to assist in optimising operational processes and create a culture of management through information. • Guidelines on CFM are in the process of development • Mainstreaming Registrars new dispensation, focus on case flow management • Development of the new Quality Management Framework • The new function on QM for courts will be redefined to be relevant to courts and enhance overall performance. The setting of service standards inline with Batho Pele principles will underpin the new QM role. Relevant bodies/institutes like SABS and TQM Institutes will be interfaced with in this exercise. This will be a paradigm shift from the current policing approach to quality assurance/inspecting of offices. • Backlog of cases / Monitoring Court Performance • ICFM Centres • Dedicated Courts (Commercial crime; hijack; drugs; environmental; community courts) / Additional courts • Review of CJS • Court Nerve Centre

12. Achievement’s cont. • Vulnerable Groups • Victim Service Charter and victim empowerment • Specialized courts (Sexual offences/ equality / SCC) • Family Courts • Child Justice / Children’s Courts • Family advocacy • Maintenance improvement project JHB and roll out • Restorative Justice

13. Achievement’s cont. • Facility and Infrastructure management • Security: the services are basically guarding services, cash in transit, cctv, armed response alarm systems and physical security infrastructure • Integrated Facility Management Framework (Audit, Blueprint compliance) the audit has been demarcated into minimum standards. 60% of the courts are in compliance with minimum standard. The audit will assist in determining priority in respect of capital works and repair and renovations and RAMPS

14. Achievement’s cont. • Alignment with urban and rural development nodes: the department is attending to infrastructural development in each of the eleven urban and rural development nodes. The development centres around new courts, additional accommodation, repairs and renovations, ramp projects, installation of new or improvement of existing information technology systems together with the upgrading of office furniture and related equipment.

15. Achievement’s cont. • RAMPS (Repair and maintenance projects): the sum of R 50 Million Rand allocated in the 2005 / 2006 will be used to rehabilitate courts that were identified as the most dilapidated and this was done in consultation with the Regional and Senior Court Managers. • Thus far one hundred (100) courts are in the renovation and repair phase and are now being maintained via the ramp projects

16. Achievement’s cont. • Capital Works projects: with focus on disadvantaged/ rural areas have been prioritized and implemented each year and will again receive preference in 2005 • Disability Access :ramps have been constructed at various courts to allow access to wheel chairs, new court buildings with more than one level have had lifts included, specially demarcated parking areas have been made available where possible, infrastructure monies will be used to purchase wheel chairs for court officials to assist public when necessary, disability needs are now a general consideration when planning any departmental offices

17. Priorities for 2005 • Roll out RAB • Transformation of judiciary including alignment JSC and MC • CJS Review • Legislation: 6 Bills • Security • Creation of court capacity • Improving court support services • Monitoring court performance

18. Conclusion • Questions