Pic: Minister Michael Masutha and North West Premier, Supra Mahumapelo during Sex Offence Court unveil

BY OBAKENG MAJE

The Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Michael Masutha officially open the Schweizer Reneke Sexual Offences Court in the North West province on Wednesday. Masutha said the court is capacitated with specially trained officials and equipment that will assist to reduce any chance of secondary trauma for victims of sexual violence.

“This is one of Justice and Constitutional Development department’s priorities to address increasing number of sexual offences reported and to directly respond to the implementation of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 32 of 2007,” he said.

Minister Masutha said his department is committed to root out criminal behaviour and protect children and women against atrocity. He said they planned to have close to 57 Sexual Offence court and so far they have launched 6 mark as the plan is to launch 12 courts a year.

He said they believe courts make difference and conviction rate has been gradually improving. “We will redress the diminishing confidence in our justice system as most people say they do not get involved or informed when bail granted to dangerous criminals.

“We need to inform them and I’ve flatly refused to approve many parole where victims were not part of the parole procedure,” he concludes. North West premier Supra Mahumapelo, North West MEC Wendy Nelson and MEC for Community Safety, Oageng Molapisi were aprt of the handing over and Mahumapelo had this to say “This is part of Setsokotsane and we would like to say thank you president Jacob Zuma and Minister for rolling out this project as our people will now have access to this court. The court is modernized, and capacitated, so we believe it will reduce backlog of many cases and be remedy to all victims,” Mahumapelo said.