Nineteen Limpopo courts launched innovative strategies, including technology adoption, as part of the End GBVF 100-Day Challenges to drastically reduce backlog and turnaround times of gender-based violence cases, fostering swifter justice and encouraging survivors to come forward.
Limpopo, South Africa (30 August 2023) – In a remarkable stride toward justice, the Limpopo province’s legal system is forging a transformative path to expedite the resolution of gender-based violence (GBV) cases.
Nineteen courts across the province are embarking on an innovative journey, harnessing cutting-edge processes and technology to tackle the backlog of GBV-related cases. This monumental endeavour is part of the End GBVF 100-Day Challenges, a national campaign that has rallied frontline teams within the court and municipal networks to devise and execute inventive strategies against GBVF.
Within this movement, the Mankweng Magistrates Court in Polokwane is setting its sights on a 70% reduction in the backlog of sexual offence cases within just 100 days. Meanwhile, the Sibasa Regional Court in Thulamela aims to achieve a 63% reduction, drastically diminishing the number of cases from 238 to 88. Over in the Waterberg region, the Lephalale Magistrates Court is targeting an 80% reduction in pending sexual offence cases during the same timeframe.
“We’re witnessing the participation of more than 85 teams in the End GBVF 100-Day Challenges of 2023,” remarks Sixolile Ngcobo from the End GBVF 100-Day Challenge implementation team. “While our courts are exploring innovative strategies to expedite GBV-related case resolution, our municipalities are also striving to establish safer public spaces, enhance GBVF reporting systems, and amplify the availability and speed of post-crisis support and healing services.”
This wave of concerted efforts kicked off on Women’s Day and is set to persist until the “16 Days of Activism against GBV.”
This extended period ensures that the teams can deeply immerse themselves in the fight against GBVF. Looking forward, the End GBVF 100-Day Challenges will continue in 2024, ensuring a sustainable and growing commitment to addressing this critical social issue.
Leveraging virtual technology, the Lenyene Magistrates Court in Greater Tzaneen achieved a groundbreaking milestone by successfully mediating and settling a maintenance dispute in under an hour.
“Embracing technology not only circumvents tiresome court postponements but also streamlines the entire system remarkably. We foresee an increasing number of courts adopting virtual systems to expedite their proceedings,” affirms Jakkie Wessels, Regional Court President in Limpopo.
Past pilot projects conducted between 2020 and 2022 unveiled astonishing results. In a mere 100 days, 11 courts managed to reduce the backlog of domestic violence protection orders by an astounding 98%.
Beyond addressing sexual offences, divorce, and maintenance cases, courts are intensifying their efforts to hasten the finalization of domestic violence cases. The Nkowankowa Magistrate Court in Greater Tzaneen is committed to reducing turnaround times for domestic violence cases from 8 to 4 weeks while slashing the backlog by 80%. Similarly, the Senwabarwana Magistrate Court in Capricorn seeks to truncate the turnaround time from 6 weeks to a mere 14 days while achieving a complete backlog clearance.
“By expediting the resolution of GBV-related cases, we ensure swift justice for those who have endured unimaginable trauma,” states Wessels. “A rapid response by our justice system not only restores public trust in our courts but also empowers more survivors of GBVF to step forward and report their cases, reassured that justice will be served promptly.”
This wave of change sweeping across Limpopo’s legal landscape signifies a beacon of hope for all those striving to end GBV once and for all.
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