The South African government’s claim that it will establish 58 dedicated sexual offences courts, to be fully operational by September this year, appears to be untrue. No budget has been announced and there appears to be no clear framework for how the courts will operate.
South Africa plans to establish 58 “dedicated” sexual offences courts which “should be fully operational” by September this year, according to the latest edition of Vuk’uzenzele, the official South African Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) newspaper.
“These dedicated courts are necessary. When there are these dedicated courts, the conviction rate goes up,” the newspaper quoted Justice Minister Jeff Radebe saying.
Is this true? And how true is the claim that 58 courts will be operational by September?
Read the full story at AfricaCheck.
Michelle Solomon 