DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Presentation to the Joint Monitoring Committee on the Improvement of the Quality of Life and

Status of Children, Youth and Disabled Persons: 12 August 2005

K.B Shabalala,Chief Director: Promotion of the Rights of Vulnerable Groups

Introduction:

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to brief the Honourable members of the Joint Monitoring Committees on the subject at hand.

Firstly, I would like to tender an apology on behalf of Adv. Menzi Simelane, the Director General for Justice and Constitutional Development who cannot be here today due to an urgent commitment back in Pretoria.

Presentation:

The department of Justice and Constitutional Development is prioritizing the rights of Children, the Youth and the Disabled in various programmes and projects that are being implemented at the courts to ensure that secondary victimization is minimized as much as possible.The protection of children happens through ongoing endeavours to divert children in conflict with the law from the mainstream criminal justice system

Specific Programmes for the Promotion of the Rights of Vulnerable Groups:

The Chief Directorate has received a budget for the following projects which prioritize the realization of Children, Youth and Disabled Persons’ Rights:

Child Maintenance:

R16,9m allocated for Personnel Expenditure 150 Maintenance Investigators appointed 28 Maintenance Officers appointed

Child Maintenance continued:

R5m allocated for Goods and Services: Training of Maintenance Investigators and

clerks; Development of Maintenance Guidelines

for Magistrates; Provision of equipment and infrastructure Main objective: Speedy finalization of

maintenance matters and reduction of cycle times by 50% by March 2006

Mainstreaming of Family law Services at all Service Points:

R16,9m allocated for Personnel Expenditure:

R7,8m for the appointment of administration clerks;

R5,6m for the appointment of Magistrates; R3m for training on Family Law,

Restorative Justice, Mediation for all staff members;

Development of a Family Law Learnership with Poslec Seta.

Objective: 50% staff trained by March 2006

Child Justice:

R13m allocated for Goods and Services:R1,5m used for coordination of Inter-Sectoral Committee for Child Justice nationally;R4m establishment of Inter-Sectoral structures in 9 provinces monitoring of Children Awaiting Trial and other Child Justice issues;R3,5m for training of clerks and family regeneration

programmes;R3m Training of Commissioner of Child Welfare and

magistrates who work in Juvenile Courts

Objective:

Reduction in the number of Children Awaiting Trial, introduction of diversion and other alternative forms of sentencing for children in conflict of the law;

Involvement of other departments in the rehabilitation of young offenders and their reintegration into society; and

Reduction in levels of recidivism among children in conflict with the law.

Latest statistics of Children Awaiting Trial:

As on 4 July 2005 there were 1159 children awaiting trial in DCS facilities as compared to 1329 children on 6 June 2005

Sexual Offences:

R6,8m allocated for appointment of magistrates for additional services;R1,1 used for appointment of clerks and stenographers;R3,3m used for appointment of Intermediaries;R1,8m for Social Context Training for Magistrates, clerks and intermediariesObjective: to reduce cycle times and secondary trauma for victims

Implementation of the Services Charter for Victims of Crime:

Budget has been allocated for the implementation of the Services Charter at the courts:R3,9m allocated for Goods and Services:

R820,000 for 9 provinces for printing of publications;

R500,000 for 9 provinces for training of clerks and other staff on the Services Charter;

R2,6m to provinces for ongoing training of new appointees

R9m provided for Personnel Expenditure for instance the appointment of Toll-free Officials

Implementation of Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, 2000

R5m allocated for appointment of Equality Court clerks;R446,000 allocated for the training of clerks;R3,9m already committed for the purchase of equipment and furnisher for Equality Courts

Objective: The integration of equality services at all courts

Disabled/Mentally and/or PhysicallyChallenged:

The provision of ramps and lifts is aimed at addressing all the concerns pertaining to “Unfair Discrimination” on the basis disability;

The Facilities Management Programme in Court Services is prioritizing the building of ramps and installation of lifts for the disabled in all upgrading projects of court buildings

Conclusion:

We are working in the best interest of all our children and vulnerable groups through our courts to ensure the realization of their rights and we wish to assure you of the Department’s commitment to this objective.

Thank you