No justice for dilapidated court
2011-03-24
Lise Beyers
SHOCKING. That in a nutshell is the condition of the Paarl Regional Court building. According to several reports in the possession of Paarl Post, no maintenance work has been done in the last 11 years and the historic building is heading for a state of total disrepair. The state of this building, which is a National Monument, puts a damper on the fact that it will be celebrating its centenary next year. The cornerstone of the court was laid on 13 April 1912 by JBM Hertzog, then minister of justice. But today the court is a far cry from the once stately house of justice. Rat infestations, walls and pillars which are crumbling, wooden floors disintegrating due to rot, broken doors and windows which cannot open - these are just some of the aspects of this court which both the public and employees have to contend with daily. The toilets are inadequate for the number of people they serve and most of them are broken, often forcing women and young girls, to use the men’s toilets. The safety aspects of the court also leave much to be desired. According to a report from the fire department, fire prevention equipment is inadequate and employees have never undergone any emergency procedures. The electrical wiring is described as being so old and worn-out, that it is like a time-bomb waiting to explode. In short, the building is unhygienic and a safety risk. Due to this, senior officials want the building to be shut down, pending an adequate clean-up and restoration. The park in front of the court building, which is home to a quaint fountain, is also going to rack and ruin, with homeless people frequenting it and littering and urinating in the bushes, as well as in the fountain. But complaints to both the Department of Justice, as well as the Department of Public Works, have fallen on deaf ears. Paarl courts manager, Cheryldene Martin, said that she has brought this issue to the attention of the office of the Director of Court Operations at the Cape Town Regional Office as well as the Department of Public Works. and is currently still awaiting feedback to the future of the court.
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