11 July 2003
The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development officially launched 47 equality courts to deal with issues of discrimination.
Speaking at the launch in Mokopane in Limpopo on Wednesday, the department's spokesman Kaizer Kganyago said the role of the courts would be to enforce the provisions of the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act of 2000.
Kganyago said the equality courts would deal mainly with issues related to unfair discrimination. "People who feel they have been discriminated against can lodge a complaint or report the matter at their nearest magistrate's court," said Kganyago, who added that the government would ensure that South Africans respect the provisions of the Act, which guarantee the equality of all citizens.
The Act also outlaws unfair discrimination and provides for the creation of equality courts within the Magistrate's and High Courts, each to be presided over by an Equality Court Officer.
The Act also authorises the Justice and Constitutional Development Minister to appoint the Equality Review Committee to monitor the implementation of its provisions.
Qualified judges and magistrates who will preside over the equality courts will be trained in the enforcement of the Act's provisions.
Source: BuaNews
