South Africa: Rural KZN court makes history

[Harold Schiffman]

General: Rural KZN court makes history

Proceedings in a trial in the Msinga Magistrate's Court in KZN today
will for the first time be conducted entirely in isiZulu – part of a
Justice Department initiative to promote the use of indigenous
languages in court. At present, in most courts, even if the
prosecutor, accused, defence attorney, presiding officer and witnesses
are all able to speak the same indigenous language, proceedings are
conducted in English, or sometimes Afrikaans, and are translated into
the relevant language. However, notes a report in The Mercury, the
department believes this does not fit in with its goal of 'access to
justice for all'. The provincial integrated justice forum in KZN,
chaired by Judge Achmat Jappie, selected Msinga to start the project.

Full report in The Mercury (subscription needed)

http://mail.google.com/mail/?source=navclient-ff&zx=tr57g1k5h6a7&shva=1#inbox/11f63b16c23c01c4
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