By Roland Routh
GROSS BARMEN – The Magistrates Commission is in the process of expanding the infrastructural set-up of magistrates’ courts which will in effect increase the number of magistrates in various magisterial districts .
This was revealed at a workshop held at Gross Barmen Resort last week to discuss the ever-increasing backlog of cases in magistrates’ courts.
According to Judge Elton Hoff, the presiding chair of the Magistrates Commission of Namibia, this is a step in the right direction.
He however was quick to point out that it would not be an easy task as additional magistrates mean additional support staff and public prosecutors.
But Judge Hoff did not stop there.
He told the high-ranking gathering, which included the Minister of Justice Utoni Nujoma, that even if more magistrates and public prosecutors are appointed it will be an exercise in futility if no provision is made for the proper expansion of infrastructure, namely courtrooms and offices including the necessary equipment required to run a court efficiently.
This in turn involves certain financial implications as well as planning, the judge said, adding that long term solutions are not the most pressing when it comes to addressing the current backlogs, but that short-term solutions should be a priority especially in view of the acute shortage of courtrooms and personnel to effectively dispense justice.
The judge also announced that an amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act would be submitted to parliament to deal with traffic offences.
He said traffic offences appearing on the initial roll especially when an offender has to appear for non-payment of fines will be done away with, should the amendment be approved and passed.
He said that the amendment will have the effect that an offender may pay an admission of guilt fine at the clerk of the court hence the need to appear before a magistrate will be eradicated, freeing up more time to deal with serious cases.