13 Jun 2017

The acting registrar of the Industrial Court, Justice Segomotso Mothotho says it will be a step in the right direction if an industrial court of appeal was established.

Reacting to MP Dithapelo Keorapetse’s comments during her appearance before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) recently, on whether it would not be a wise move to have such a superior court, Justice Mothotho said in progressive jurisdictions such courts were already in place and had proved efficient as they maintain the same level of operation as the lower courts.

She said since industrial courts were courts of equity by nature, the establishment of an industrial court of appeal would maintain the status unlike when the case was referred to a court of appeal where the status was not observed due to its set up.

She added that litigants may be negatively affected by its operation.

On another issue, she said she does not see anything wrong with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) recommending the appointment of Industrial Court judges to the appointing authority just as it was done with judges of the High Court whom they were at par with.

Justice Mothotho also said it would not be cost effective to appoint acting or temporary judges to deal with the backlog of cases in the current set up.

In addition, she said she was not aware that the Francistown Industrial Court disposed of cases faster than the Gaborone court.

The Industrial Court has a staff complement of 100 officers and there are currently nine judges with seven in Gaborone and two based in Francistown.

However there is a vacancy as one judge recently tendered his resignation.

On other issues, Justice Mothotho complained that they did not have a finance officer because of their relatively small number, saying it was difficult for them to keep their finance and accounts books up to date.

She said they were currently assisted from the ministry, and periodically by seconded officers.

The Industrial Court is currently on a nationwide tour to sell itself to the people, as it appears that there is still little knowledge about the court.

Justice Mothotho had noted that there was low media coverage of the court except when there was a so-called big case.

The chairperson of the committee, MP Abram Kesupile had asked about media coverage of the court. ENDS