Many jobs on the line if High Court moves from Makhanda

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Five thousand job losses, the closure of law firms, and the disruption to the administration of justice were some of the reasons given by the High Court Action Committee to oppose the move of the seat of the high court from Makhanda to Bhisho.

The Committee held a media briefing in Makhanda on Friday to outline its stance on the recommendations of the Moseneke Commission of Enquiry to move the seat of the High Court to the Provincial capital.

Rhodes University vice chancellor and Committee spokesperson, Professor Sizwe Mabizela, was flanked by decorated attorneys Brin Brody and Ntobeko Yokwana.

Mabizela told members of the media that the proposed move could cost the taxpayer R1 billion rand and place the future of the City of Saints in peril.

This is not the first attempt to move the court out of Bhisho.

The Hoexter Commission of enquiry from 1996-1998 found that the move would be a socio-economic catastrophe for the small town.

 In 2003 a meeting of the Judiciary met in Makhanda and it was decided to the seat would remain in the town.

Again in 2006, it was decided that the seat remains in Makhanda.

And between 2010 and 2012 Makhanda was retained as the main seat in terms of Sections 6 and 50 of the Superior Courts Act.

Mabizela also argued that the move could also impact the quality of justice that is given as lawyers in the town have access to the Rhodes Law Library.

He said Makhanda court was the most efficient court in the province and there was no need to change the working system.

“[Bhisho] is 130km away from Gqeberha which has the largest centre of the province with a large court system.

“Over 500 000 people will have to travel further for justice,” he said.

The group have until the end of the month to submit their submission to the rationalisation committee before a decision is made.

Yokwana agreed with Mabizela saying that the change will not affect only the law fraternity.

“The economy of this small town will collapse.”

“To embark on such a move with this current state in our country and economy of [Makhanda] compromised as it is will have a great impact on this community,” he added.