Mr Speaker, I want to thank the hon member for raising this question as it speaks to one of the core mandates of the department, namely providing an accessible and transformed justice service, committed to the promotion of constitutional values for all. One of the injustices of the past is the fact that branch courts, which were not equipped to provide essential services such as child maintenance, protection orders, deceased estates, adoption orders and legal remedies in civil disputes, were established in townships and rural areas. This resulted in many people, mostly the poor, travelling vast distances to main courts where these services were provided.
One of the projects the department initiated to make access to justice for all a reality is the redesignation of these branch courts as full-service courts. Ekangala is one of the 15 areas that the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development has proclaimed as a separate magisterial district with effect from 11 August 2009. This effectively means that the area has, with effect from that date, been excised from the Mkobola magisterial district, under which it fell before the proclamation, and made into a full-service court. Prior to the proclamation, the people of Ekangala had to travel to Mkobola for some of the services.
This government is promoting access to justice by bringing courts closer to the people. It must also be noted that Ekangala is less than 10 km from Bronkhorstspruit and forms part of the Mkobola magisterial district solely on the basis that it was part of the old KwaNdebele homeland in the apartheid era. The proclamation also seeks to correct this anomaly.
It is also important to mention that Ekangala is currently a circuit of the regional court, which sits in Mpumalanga. This implies that the regional magistrates from the Nelspruit or Mbombela court must travel from Nelspruit to a court in Ekangala.
I have been informed that the department is in the process of finalising the consultation process with the view to changing this position, with effect from June 2010. The regional division of Gauteng will then have jurisdiction over Ekangala. This will further increase access to justice for the communities in that area.
I have been informed that the building of the new court will be completed by 31 March 2010, after which a date for the official opening of the court will be determined in liaison with the Department of Public Works. I thank you.