Deputy minister Thembi Siweya recently visited the court in Randburg after getting many complaints regarding the poor treatment victims of gender-based violence were allegedly receiving at the courts.

According to the various complaints there are slow-moving queues and the victims of gender-based violence (GBV) being turned away while preference is being given to celebrities.

These were some of the observations made by deputy minister in the presidency Thembi Siweya during her unannounced visit to the Randburg magistrate’s court.

“We’ve been receiving complaints from last year on the presidential hotline. We’ve been observing them and today we decided to come to court to see what is happening. It was a surprise visit and the only person we informed was justice minister (Ronald) Lamola. I came here wearing civilian clothes so I could appear normal and stand in the line,” Siweya said outside the court.”

She said she had gone to the court to verify the complaints received.

 “The complaints were true. There are four lines to get into the court. The one for GBV did not move. It only moved when I arrived. I stood there for 15 minutes. I interacted with two or three people. Some victims are coming back for the second time, others are here for the first time.

“There seems to be confusion with communicating with GBV victims. Apparently they [officials] can only take a limited number of people a day,” said Siweya.

Deputy minister Thembi Siweya  said when she interacted with management at the courts there was no clear explanation given why the queue servicing GBV victims was not moving.

“Our take is that the Batho Pele (people first) principles need to thrive and continue to happen. We need to give victims of GBV the necessary support they need.

“Management seemed to be shocked or overwhelmed. They did not seem confident and did not give answers to questions I asked. I was asking them why the line was not moving. They were telling me about Covid-19 and level 3. They shifted the blame to each other. One said they were on leave for three weeks and could not answer. They gave too many stories for not attending to GBV victims.”

Gender-based violence affects women in all strata of society.  If you are being threatened with violence contact your local police station and file a police report.   If you still feel the need for personal protection services like bodyguards then please contact us immediately for a free and private consultation.

Siweya said most of the cases received through the hotline had come from the Randburg magistrate’s court.

The visit was to also affirm that when people interact with officials through the presidential hotline their complaints were addressed, Siweya said.

“We want to encourage South Africans to continue to talk to us through the presidential hotline so we can improve as government.

“President Ramaphosa is committed to protecting the women of SA. He remains committed to ensuring the justice system works for victims of any violence.

“We do not need to victimise our victims again (at the court). They must find comfort and confidence in our justice system. We are doing this so we can improve and alert the relevant political principals so they interact with their people in the department to tighten loose screws,” she said.

Stephen Zulu

Joint Managing Director of Ken Assurance Security