City Court A Success

15 September, 2008

Story Written By Samantha Moodley

It's been six months since eThekwini launched its municipal court and the R5- million venture has proved so successful in resolving cases that a second court is now planned. In July alone, the court handled 6 640 cases, more than double the number that were resolved in its opening month, March. Courts Manager Nonhlanhla Dladla, said: “Due to the success of the court, plans are in progress to open a second one at the same venue. There is a great need for this due to the high workload.” Dladla said there were also plans to roll out municipal courts throughout eThekwini to make them more accessible, while easing the burden on the magistrate’s courts.

The municipal court concentrates on bringing swift justice in cases previously deemed “low-priority” or “petty offences”. In the past these cases took many months to get a hearing. Dladla said: “By-law contraventions, including animal nuisance, littering, noise and illegal trading, as well as traffic violations are dealt with at the court. It does not deal with cases involving serious crime, such as reckless and negligent driving and culpable homicide.” She said the new court owed much of its success to its convenient location – on Somtseu Road near the Durban Magistrate’s court. “It acts as an extension of that court,” said Dladla.

The court is open from 7.30 am to 4 pm on weekdays, with one municipal prosecutor and two prosecutors from the Department of Justice on duty. Residents can go to the court to pay or inquire about fines and to make representations to a prosecutor or more information, call 031 311 3262/63/61 or e-mail trafficfines@durban.gov.za

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