Judges Matter welcomes draft directive urging parties in civil trial matters to pursue mediation before resorting to litigation
The organisation says the move is necessary to ensure access to justice.
The Pretoria Magistrate's Court in Tshwane. Picture: Katlego Jiyane/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - Judicial watchdog, Judges Matter has welcomed the draft directive issued by Gauteng Judge President, Dunstan Mlambo urging parties in civil trial matters to pursue mediation before resorting to litigation.
The organisation says the move is necessary to ensure access to justice.
In the draft directive, Mlambo says many matters can be resolved without the intervention of a judge as the overwhelming caseload in the division will see some matters being set down for as far as 2031 – about six years from now.
Frustration by some sectors in the legal community has been rife following the draft directive by Judge President, Dunstan Mlambo that – among others – would cancel cases enrolled past the first of January 2027 for parties to pursue mediation before litigation in the division.
READ: Judge Mlambo issues directive seeking to make mediation mandatory in all civil trials
But civil society organisation, Judges Matter is hopeful that the legal community in the province will support the initiative which seeks to assist parties resolve disputes.
"We believe that this initiative is an important step to ensuring that many more people in the province have access to justice at a much faster rate than they otherwise would," said Advocacy and researcher at Judges Matter, Mbekezeli Benjamin.
Benjamin added that the initiative will benefit South Africans in pursuit of justice.