Health and safety risks at the magistrate’s court building in Kariega abound, with collapsing ceiling panels, wet floors after rains, broken windows and signs falling from the roof.
Every day poses the threat of injury for those attending court matters, including public prosecutors, lawyers, magistrates, court staff and the public.
The situation is so dire that some legal professionals refuse to enter the building in Durban Road.
Justice and constitutional development department spokesperson Steve Mahlangu said on Friday that repairs and renovations to the building were under way, despite Weekend Post not seeing any construction workers at the court when visiting on two occasions.
After avoiding the open manhole in front of the building, visitors are welcomed by the stench of damp and mouldy materials.
After passing through security checks, a quick turn to the right and the sight of wet floors and buckets across the floor when it rains poses the first threat to one’s safety.
While climbing the stairs to the first floor where all the court rooms are situated, ceiling panels ominously dangle from the roof. The panels are stained by rainwater, with large sections having turned brown from what seems to be mould.
Passing through the passages to the court rooms, waiting areas and the Integrated Justice Court Centre, the floors are slippery and covered in water when it rains, with thick dust covering them on warmer days.
Broken windows along the passage and outside the court rooms and vulgar graffiti on the walls in the waiting areas and on some courtroom doors meet the eye as you make your way through the building.
Bay attorney Danie Oelofse said the condition of the building was atrocious.
“It is filthy, a cesspool and a complete disgrace,” he said.
Oelofse regularly attended court cases at the court building, but now avoids it as much as possible.
“I will not go there any more. It is unhealthy and poses many safety risks.
“How can public prosecutors, magistrates, attorneys and advocates and the public be exposed to this type of disregard by the department of justice?” Oelofse asked.
Another attorney, Theuns Roelofse, said the interior of the building looked terrible.
“The conditions there are atrocious. We have to go there for our work, but it is dangerous.
“When it rains it’s a major health and safety hazard. People could get hurt going there,” he said.
Roelofse said in particular the lift used by disabled persons was a great threat as it was one of the areas most affected when it rained.
“People who get injured can open a case and even sue the department of justice,” Roelofse said.
Another attorney, who asked to remain anonymous, said the problem had been going on for years with no-one doing anything about it.
“It is an utter disgrace for the justice system. How can we be expected to work under these conditions?
“No-one seem to be doing anything about this and someone needs to be held accountable,” she said.
A senior state advocate who asked not to be named said she and a few of her colleagues had for months refused to set foot in the building because of its hazards.
“We have complained many times, but nothing ever gets done,” she said.
Mahlangu said work had commenced on May 19 2021 after the construction permit was issued by the department of labour and it was envisioned the work would be completed by December 2022.
He said the concerns raised about the state of the building were being addressed in the current 18-month construction project.
“General day-to-day maintenance is the responsibility of the court.
“Due to the nature and extent of the defects, it could not be addressed under general maintenance and required a service to be registered and funded under major works,” he said.
Mahlangu said daily health and safety inspections were conducted and audits on a monthly basis, and if there were any concerns they were addressed within prescribed timelines.
“Should any injury occur, standard practice in terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act will be followed to determine liability and corrective action,” Mahlangu said.
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