The Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services has called for the re-introduction of the Traditional Courts Bill.
Committee Chairperson Dr Mathole Motshekga said there are millions of South Africans living in traditional communities in the country. “Currently they operate outside the Constitution. It is not acceptable that 20 years after the advent of democracy, these practices still continue. We need to have the Bill re-introduced.”
The Committee said Traditional Courts currently operate the same as prior to democracy, which cannot be allowed to continue.
Dr Motshekga said if people or organisations have concerns or issues with the legislation, they need to bring those concerns to Parliament. “We cannot allow some department officials to sit indefinitely with the Bill. They need to give Parliament the opportunity to do its work.”
The Bill was taken off the parliamentary programme early last year after extensive commentary and contributions that emerged during public hearings. It was felt that with general elections just around the corner, it was unlikely that Parliament would have been able to finalise the Bill before the general elections.
The Committee also indicated that during the deliberations on the Legal Practice Bill, now the Legal Practice Act, it was decided to remove the issue of Para-legal practitioners as this would come in a separate Bill. Until now this has not been the case.
The Committee called for a swift introduction of such legislation. “We cannot make promises and then not live up to them,” said Dr Motshekga.
On recent events in the media regarding a pastor encouraging his followers to drink petrol or eat rats or snakes, the Committee said such behaviour must be condemned. Dr Motshekga said: “There is the freedom of religion and we clearly may not interfere with it. Nowhere in religion, written or unwritten, are such practices promoted. We cannot just sit back and watch the violation of human dignity of our people. We cannot sit back and allow the poorest of the poor being taken advantage of.”
The Committee called for a dialogue to discuss the matter of religion and the Constitution. “Our people need to be informed,” he said.
Enquiries:
Rajaa Azzakani
Tel: 021 403 8437
Cell: 081 703 9542
E-mail: razzakani@parliament.gov.za
