IFP Seeks Urgent Answers From Minister Of Justice

MEDIA STATEMENT ISSUED BY:
MR KOOS VAN DER MERWE MP
IFP CHIEF WHIP AND SPOKESPERSON ON JUSTICE

February 6, 2007

The Inkatha Freedom Party is urgently seeking answers from the Minister of Justice, regarding reports that several trial awaiting prisoners are spending years behind bars before their cases are being heard, said the IFP's Chief Whip and Spokesperson on Justice, Mr Koos van der Merwe MP, today.

On the 4th of February 2007, the Sunday Times reported that Mr Johan Myburgh has been languishing in a Pretoria Jail for ten years, waiting for his fraud trial to start, while in the same jail Mr Sergio Christiano has been waiting for seven long years for his fraud and robbery trial to commence. In another case, Mr Malvern Fredericks waited four years in jail before his appeal was heard, in which he was found not guilty, thus having served four years in jail for no reason at all.

"The Inkatha Freedom Party is extremely angered by these reports. This is just another great example of how the South African Justice system is failing its citizens and how the Department of Justice is violating basic human rights," said Mr van der Merwe.

"The IFP has submitted an urgent parliamentary question to the Minister and we would like to know - what explanation the Minister can offer for such gross violation of human rights? What steps are being taken against persons responsible for this travesty of justice and what steps, if any, is the Minister taking to prevent similar violations?

"These are dreadful instances of neglect and disregard and we need urgent attention, and indeed action, from Minister Mabandla," concluded Mr van der Merwe.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr Koos van der Merwe MP: 082 444 4944
Liezl van der Merwe: 083 611 7470