Justice Minister Launches Investigation into Courts Digitisation Project

Pretoria: Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has referred the Digitisation Project at courts around the country to the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and the Hawks for investigation. The project was rolled out five years ago to offices in the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Gauteng provinces, including High Courts, Magistrates' Courts, Labour Courts, and Masters' Offices to provide off-site records storage and digitisation. According to South African Government News Agency, during an unannounced visit to the Master of the High Court in Pretoria on Wednesday, the Minister was informed that services had been disrupted due to 'denial of access to the records by the service provider'. This disruption has raised significant concerns as the digitisation project was intended to enhance efficiency and speed in service delivery, but it now appears to be the cause of service delays and disruptions. The department revealed that a private company's control over State records is a major issue, as it has the authority to restrict departmental access to these records. This concern prompted Minister Kubayi to call for an investigation by the SIU and the Hawks. The investigation will focus on various aspects, including the contract's nature, any breaches of government policies, the cost-effectiveness of the services rendered, and potential negligence by department officials that may have led to service delivery failures. In a statement, Minister Kubayi emphasized the importance of addressing the disruption of services at offices that play a crucial role in public support. She demanded a comprehensive report on the digitisation project's issues and warned that any misconduct, negligence, or corruption found would be met with stringent legal consequences. The Minister's decisive actions aim to restore public confidence and ensure accountability in the justice system.