06 Aug 2019

 Continuous training of judicial officers is essential in preserving the moral integrity of the country, Chief Justice Terrence Rannowane has said.

Speaking at the commencement of a four-day induction seminar for newly appointed magistrates recently, Justice Rannowane stressed the importance of developing judicial officers in dispensing justice to empower them to deal with contemporary issues more efficiently.

He emphasised the need to continually equip judicial officers and judges with relevant judicial skills necessary to facilitate growth and transformation of the judicial system.

“Effective judicial performance is necessary to maintain public confidence in the dispensation of justice,” he said.

He also urged magistrates to ensure strict adherences to the dispensation of justice to curtail delays.

Justice Rannowane informed magistrates that they were entitled to deny bail and exercise their judicial discretion citing incidences where criminals had committed offences while on bail as a bad reflection of judicial processes.

“In the dispensation of sentences, judicial officers must always strive to adhere and appreciate global and contemporary issues,” he said.

The chief justice thanked the South African Judicial Education Institute (SAJEI) for their continued facilitation in the training of judicial officers.

He said the training had been critical in allowing judicial officers to give the country the highest level of judicial excellence.

Justice Rannowane revealed that Botswana was in the process of establishing a training institute which would offer training in line with judicial transformation.

SAJEI chief executive officer, Dr Gomolemo Moshoeu, noted that nowadays judicial officers needed to be able to deal with diversity and the dynamic social context in which they lived.

Training, she said, was essential in empowering the judiciary to interpret judicial processes especially in an age where contemporary situations such as technological innovations were used by criminals to defeat the ends of justice.

It would also enable judicial officers and judges to relate with other parties in the courtroom in order to preserve judicial credence, said Dr Moshoeu.

“Therefore continuous training is a prerequisite if the judiciary is to be respected,” she said. ENDS