26 Jul 2016

The Dukwi Customary Court registered eight civil cases and 193 criminal cases totaling 202 cases in 2014, while in 2015, 16 civil cases and 146 criminal cases totaling 162 were registered. Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Frans Van Der Westhuizen said from January 2016 to date, the court has registered two civil cases and 66 criminal cases.

On average, he said this was equivalent to the number of cases registered annually by other customary courts of its size. Dukwi Customary Court has a senior tribal authority, headman of records and two headmen of arbitration, which the minister said were enough for a population of 5 877 as per the 2011 population census.

“There are therefore no plans to increase the number of dikgosi at Dukwi Customary Court as the current staffing is commensurate with the current case load,” he said. Nata/Gweta MP, Mr Polson Majaga had asked if the minister was aware that the said customary court had more cases, workload and registration of cases than other neighbouring villages.

He also wanted to know whether there were any plans to increase the number of dikgosi from two to three in order to improve the situation and fast track service delivery in the village. Ends