By Sisanda Mgojo
Sex crimes and offences against children should be delayed less in Chatsworth as the Magistrates Court in the area has received new refurbishments.
The upgraded facility was launched on Monday, 22 April, by Deputy Minister of Justice, John Jeffery. He was accompanied by Minister of Public Works, Sihle Zikalala.
The building has a district court, equality court, sex offences court and children’s court. Prior to this, residents of the area had to travel to the Durban city centre for these services.
“The Sexual Offences Court is important. With the unabated increase of sexual violence in the country, the court system has to be responsive and more accessible to survivors of sex crimes so as to increase reporting and the use of the courts, while reducing the withdrawal rate by complainants in these cases,” said Jeffery.
He added that sexual offences courts have to meet certain strict requirements and also offer support services which make it easier and less traumatic for victims of sex crimes.
