Khadija Magardie
The regulatory body for the country’s advocates, the General Council of the Bar, has announced its contribution towards the government’s “Vuk’uzenzele” voluntarism drive providing acting judges pro bono during court recesses to clear case backlogs.
The council said this week that each of its six constituent Bars would offer the services of several senior counsel to the judge president or high court registrar in their constituencies. The advocates would give up a minimum of a week during the July court vacation to sit in special high court appeal sessions, on an unpaid basis.
Each Bar chairperson would coordinate the organisation of this session with the local judge president. According to the council, the move aims to alleviate backlogs, particularly in criminal appeals.
In his state of the nation address last month President Thabo Mbeki announced the launch of the “Vuk’uzenzele” campaign which calls on all sectors of society, especially professionals, to undertake more voluntary work to help build the country.