Govt to Amend Traditional Courts Bill

President Jacob Zuma this week confirmed that the government is looking at amending the controversial Traditional Courts Bill, which has been criticised for its potential to entrench royal and traditional authority at the expense of basic access to justice and women’s rights.

Women’s lobby groups and other civil society bodies, including the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party, have denounced the bill which they described as unconstitutional.

The Bill, which is also criticised for restricting access to justice by denying those living under traditional authority the right to opt out of such a justice system and go straight to conventional courts of law, has also been rejected by the provinces.

To read the article titled, “Unconstitutional’ Traditional Courts Bill in line for changes,” click here.