Publications
Partners
Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng has announced that it will be business as usual at various courts across the country with “cases continuing as normal”.
However, certain steps will be put in place to curb the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus.
Mogoeng made the announcement on Tuesday as he outlined the measures that would be implemented by the judiciary at all courts across the country in an effort to combat Covid-19.
The chief justice, along with other heads of court, addressed the media following a meeting between judicial heads and President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday.
Mogoeng said it was important for justice to continue undeterred with “litigants, witnesses, those accompanying children, families or support groups being allowed into court”.
He added that, if needs be, “we might reduce the number but it will be business as usual”.
Mogoeng stressed that access to justice was pivotal and could not be compromised, but assured the public that, as instructed by Ramaphosa, hearings at courts would not exceed 100 individuals.
Read: Covid-19: Ramaphosa announces ‘urgent, drastic’ measures
Some of the decontamination measures to be put in place to reduce the spread of the virus would include “reception staff be given gloves, disposable gowns and masks”, among other protective gear.
Mogoeng also said that it was “imperative” that all courts “have running water and toilet paper” to enforce necessary hygiene measures to stop the spread of Covid-19.
“Decontamination of cells, courts, lifts and ablution facilities, handles and taps facilities at our courts,” are also some measures that the judiciary and the presidency had agreed to implement.
Mogoeng added that: “None of us from the vantage point of the armchair critic pretend to have all the answers. It would be highly inappropriate for me to pretend to be the smart guy who has all the answers.”
This announcement by the judiciary followed close on the heels of the department of labour announcing its own measures to combat the spread of the virus at work places.
Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi said the Unemployment Insurance Fund’s Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme would be used to ensure that workers were not laid off.
“In instances where companies decide to close for a short period as a precautionary measure, the short term UIF benefit will kick in. If a company contemplates a short-term shutdown, they are required to inform the Unemployment Insurance Fund. Our team will visit these companies to provide assistance with the processing of the claims,” said Nxesi.
Quarantine leave would also be covered by the UIF.
The minister urged employers to conduct a health and safety risk assessment in consultation with the workers.
He said employers were required to provide necessary protective equipment and put in place systems to deal with the outbreak, as well as including all mitigating measures that were to be put in place until the outbreak had been dealt with.
Schools and universities have also put in place measures that include shutting down places of learning until further notice to try and curb the increase in Covid-19 infections.
 |
| ||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
