Accessibility . For persons with disabilities, access to the criminal justice system remains a problem. An example cited was that localised sign language was not being used within courts, making communication and interpretation difficult. . Courts and police officials needed to become more available in terms of their operating hours. Court services in particular were not available after hours in many areas resulting in limited access, as well as loss of wages for farm women, shift workers and casual employees who have to take time off work to access court. . Victims of domestic violence were subjected to secondary victimisation within the judicial process. . Many court officials were ill-equipped to deal with matters related to domestic violence. . Availability of magistrates after hours was problematic. Secondary victimisation . Victims of domestic violence were subject to secondary victimisation by court officials and undue delay in court processes. . In many instances, victims were not granted a protection order but requested to return with sufficient evidence or a notice to show cause for a protection order to be granted. This often resulted in women having to return home to the perpetrator without any protection. Victims, who have already suffered trauma, were therefore additionally victimised by the institution whose protection they sought. In addition, the court may also allow the alleged perpetrator to provide a notice to show cause for why a protection order should not be issued. . It was noted that there was a lack of privacy in court when dealing with domestic violence cases. Although sensitive, these proceedings were often open to the public.