07 Feb 2018

Retiring chief justice Mr Maruping Dibotelo says it is commendable that prior to and during his tenure of office, government and the judiciary established a ‘sizeable’ number of courts in the countryside.

Speaking during the 2017 Legal Year opening ceremony, which was graced by Vice President, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi, Cabinet ministers, members of the diplomatic corps and the legal fraternity among others on February 6, Justice Dibotelo said he was hopeful that this would be expanded.

He talked of the need to unfreezing construction of magistrate courts in places like Ghanzi and Serowe as well as the acceleration of maintenance and refurbishment of court infrastructure and judges’ houses in Lobatse and Francistown which were in a dilapidated state including provision of befitting official vehicles for judges.

The chief juctice said he was happy with the extension of Broadhurst Magistrate Court and its occupation on December 18, 2017 including a gymnasium all at a total cost of P75.6 million.

Other completed projects include the Kanye Magistrates Court and staff houses at a cost of P64.1 million ,completion of gymnasium at Francistown and Lobatse divisions of the High Court at a total cost of P760 000.

In addition, he said the department was still awaiting the delivery of the alteration and works at plot 1144 Area L, Francistown at a cost of P1.4 million  to accommodate the Small Claims, Traffic and Family (maintenance) Courts scheduled for completion in early March 2018 thereby decongesting the Francistown Magistrates Court operating at Ntshe House.

Mr Dibotelo applauded government for such ‘weighty investment’ in the judiciary and the wellness of its staff.

On other issues, he said in line with the then Vision pillar of “Access to Justice for All by 2016”, the Administration of Justice had been able to provide judicial services in rural areas, thus reducing the expense and travelling time to go to major towns and villages to source services from the judiciary.

The initiative, he said, had also curtailed travelling distances to claim child maintenance and or give evidence of a local event in a village far from the scene of the event.      

Justice Maruping further said ‘with great delight’ the Administration of Justice had established magistrates courts in Hukuntsi, Gumare, Kang, Shakawe, Nata and Bobonong .

He therefore said he was grateful for the resources which made it possible to operate from these areas, adding that public access in terms of physical structures, simplification of the Rules and Legal Aid were matters that the judiciary was concerned about.   

Meanwhile, Justice Dibotelo paid tribute to the late second president, Sir Ketumile Masire one of the founding fathers of the nation and African statesman who was a regular dignitary at Legal Year opening ceremonies including the past one. ENDS