Eastern Cape High Court to move from Makhanda to Bhisho

MAKHANDA - Legal practitioners in the Eastern Cape are at loggerheads over the proposed relocation of the seat of the High Court.

Some are suggesting that the office of the Judge President be moved to the provincial capital, Bhisho but residents of Makhanda are concerned that this could lead to joblessness.

On Friday, Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola got the opportunity to engage with disgruntled residents of the town.

The people from the town of Makhanda say moving the seat of the High Court could be detrimental not only to the economy but it could also lead to a jobs bloodbath.                          

Makhanda High Court Action Committee Sizwe Mabizela said, "We have had an engagement with him and it was critically important for him to come to Makhanda, understand the role and place of the High Court in the entire ecosystem here in Makhanda."

"So we briefed him fully about why the Seat of the High Court needs to remain in Makhanda."                            

Makhanda High Court Committee Brin Brody said, "All the people who had put in submissions for the court to move are serving their self-interests they are either attorneys or advocates. We haven't seen any civic organisations suggesting this so it is motivated by what they will gain without having any regard to what it will do to Makhanda."   

Moving the Seat of the High Court to Bhisho could also lead to political and economic instability.

Makhanda executive mayor Yandiswa Vara said, "People come from far people buy and sleep in Makana, they buy clothes in Makana, they eat in Makana."

"So that will have a huge negative impact on us and our ability as a municipality to render the services through the limited resources that we are generating from the collection of the revenue."                                             

Minister Ronald Lamola described the Makhanda High Court Action Campaign gathering as unprecedented. He hopes that the right decision will be made in the best interests of the people in the Eastern Cape.   

Lamola said, "The first issue is access to justice and the demographics across the province the issue is that it relates to where are the people in East London litigating."

"The people in Queenstown, the people in Mthatha, and all those communities in Matatiela, and how are they affected by the jurisdictions of their courts."     

It has also been projected that should the move happen that the projected unemployment rate in Makhanda could skyrocket to over 50 percent.