Labour to dispense justice in leasing
Category State Property News
THE labour courts have had to dispense justice while grappling with space constraints, lease problems and even an eviction order.
Labour Court Judge President Dustan Mlambo conceded during a Judicial Service Commission appointments interview in Cape Town last month that he inherited these problems when he took over the reins in 2010.
There are four labour courts — Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth — each with its own problems.
Mlambo said that when he was based in Cape Town he had looked for an alternative building for the labour court, which is in the busy Loop Street.
“There are problems with the current premises. There is not enough space and the parking is insufficient,” said Mlambo.
“There are only two judges’ chambers and one court for Labour Appeal Court sittings and one court room for the Labour Court.”
Mlambo said he had inspected and earmarked a new building and had sent his recommendation to the Department of Public Works.
Thami Mchunu, the spokesman for Public Works, confirmed that a suitable building had been identified.
In Durban, the court was threatened with eviction from its building.
The cellphone company MTN sold the building to Dumisane Tembe, with whom the department then signed a lease. But MTN reclaimed it after claiming that he had failed to pay.
Mchunu said the department was now buying the building.
In Port Elizabeth, where the lease expired in 2010, the court is in dire need of more space.
For now the lease is being extended on a year-on-year basis, which Mlambo said gives the court time to find alternative premises.
•Mlambo was recommended by the Judicial Service Commission for the position of judge president of the Gauteng (Johannesburg and Pretoria divisions) High Court. His name was sent to President Jacob Zuma for consideration last month.
Author: Warehouse Finder
