Gauteng fails to reach target set by SA judiciary

JOHANNESBURG - The Gauteng Division of the High Court had the lowest percentage of finalised criminal matters in the country for the last financial year.

This is according to the Annual Judiciary Report, which was released on Friday.

During the period under review, the various divisions of the High Court around the country managed to finalise 83 percent of all criminal matters.  Gauteng came in below the target of 75 percent.

However, several divisions did not meet their own, individual targets, with Gauteng having put on the worst performance even though it is one of the busiest divisions.

Chief Justice Raymond Zondo presented the report in the Constitutional Court.

"The Gauteng division achieved 57 performance which represents 18 percent below the target of 75 and can mainly be ascribed to the complex nature of the cases that the courts have to deal with coupled with the multiple accused persons involved in many of the cases."