Question No 736
Honourable Hope Malgas (ANC) to ask the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development:
(1) With reference to the Regional Courts of Port Elizabeth (in the Northern Areas), what average period of time does it take for a fully investigated case to proceed through the entire court process, from the time of the accuser’s first appearance up to conviction;
(2) How many cases of (a) robbery with aggravating circumstances, (b) murder and (c) attempted murder (i) were heard by these Regional Courts and (ii) resulted in convictions in the latest specified period of twelve months for which information is available?
Reply:
(1) The information below relates to the Port Elizabeth Regional Courts for the period 1 May 2008 to 30 June 2009. On average, the cases were finalised in 11, 7 months.
(2) The table below indicate the requested information regarding the Port Elizabeth Regional Courts for the period 1 May 2008 to 30 June 2009:
Main charge: Robbery with aggravating circumstances
Number of cases heard by the regional court: 46
Number of cases resulted in conviction: 26
Main charge: Murder
Number of cases heard by the regional court: 220
Number of cases resulted in conviction: 106
Main charge: Attempted murder
Number of cases heard by the regional court: 72
Number of cases resulted in conviction: 35
Main charge: Total
Number of cases heard by the regional court: 338
Number of cases resulted in conviction: 167
Issued by: Department of Justice and Constitutional Development
14 August 2009
