07 Mar 2019

Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Shaw Kgathi says a sub-committee of judges has been set up to review security measures with a view to making recommendations towards a more adequate security model for judicial officers.

Answering a question in Parliament on Wednesday, Mr Kgathi said in order to accord them security; judges, magistrates and registrars were provided with escort by police officers as well as security alarms and security guards.

He said in the last ten years, Mahalapye and Selibe-Phikwe Magistrate courts had been destroyed by fire.

Investigations had revealed that the fire at Selibe Phikwe Magistrate Court was caused by an electrical fault and to prevent that the Administration of Justice had installed a new fire detection system with enhanced features.

He further explained that investigations into the Mahalapye Magistrate Court fire were still continuing and so far, no one had been linked to the matter.

Member of Parliament for Gaborone Central, Dr Phenyo Butale, had wanted to know how many courts were destroyed by fire in the last ten years and whether the culprits had been brought to book.

He also enquired on what kind of security was accorded judges, magistrates and registrars and whether it was considered adequate taking into consideration the nature of security threats associated with their mandate and whether they could objectively deliver justice without feeling intimidated or threatened. Ends