(picture: vuk'uzenzele.gov.za)
Lurnay Tshabalala-Mavuso, Senior Reporter | CURRENT AFFAIRS | 28 May 2025
TSAKANE - Residents are fuming with anger and sadness as they express their sentiments and feelings on the poor service delivery that they are experiencing at Tsakane Magistrates' Court. They have expressed to Tsakane Informer that they have had enough of the court and the court's staff as they always have to beg and run behind the court staff's backs when they have to get service delivery. Among the complainants are elderly people who have filed for cases in the areas of Domestic Violence and in the Criminal department. Residents say that the court no longer serves them the justice that they deserve as cases are always being postponed and reminded for many dates with which when they return they are still getting no attention being given to them.
"The court must be closed because clearly there is no help that we are getting from it. The staff there is rude and does not even have a sense of customer care and service. These people are supposed to serve us with dignity as it is within our constitutional rights to have access to court services, right to be treated equally as others and a right to have our dignities protected.", Nomathemba(45).
Among many other complaints are that of women who are fighting the fathers of their children to maintain their children. These women complain that each and every time they go for help at the maintenance department they come back with disappointments in their hearts because their only line of help and defense always jokes around with them, serving them with documentation that they haven't properly explained their use to them and expect them to come back to submit having filed the documents with the right and accurate information whilst they haven't explained anything thoroughly to them. While they suspect that court officials at the maintenance department join forces with fathers who do not want to pay maintenance for their children by accepting bribes from them.
"It's been 3 years now since I have been attending court at the maintenance department and there is no help that I am getting there. Instead the father of my child keeps on getting free passes and is not maintaining my child to this day and I am struggling as a single mother who is seasonally employed. The child needs a lot of things that at most times I cannot afford to give to them." , Portia (23).
The court has been running for a long time now and residents feel as if in the early years after the establishment and launch of the court, they have been getting helped in the manner that they appreciated. However it is now that they feel as if they are being let down by the very same place where they are supposed to find help and refuge as they seek nothing but justice. This is very much emotionally touching as residents continue to leave their homes to make ques at the court from early in the morning until late afternoon only to come back hungry and having not received any help. While residents do make mention that they believe that if they had money they would also pay bribes to ensure that they receive justice and the help they need because clearly justice belongs to the ones who are wealthy and well-off.
"I have been attending my case since 2024 July and there has not been any developments at all, instead they keep on reminding the case until this day. I am just a grown lady who has physical challenges and at most times it is hard for me to get here but I push myself to get here so that my case can reach its final decision because I have been waiting for way too long.", Anonymous.
It seems as if truly justice does not reside in South Africa as people are always waiting in lines at courthouses fighting for justice and seeking help from public servants who are failing them, ridiculing them and looking down on them. It is very saddening to hear all the expressions of residents who are only seeking help from the court and the only thing they are getting is a cold shoulder. Truly our country's justice system is in shambles or rather let me say it is in ashes as the fire has been long burning now. Kude phambili and residents have no hope for a better change. The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development should really intervene. If they do not change the court staff then they should make means to ensure that courts are well running and that they do meet the needs of community members.
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