20. Case backlogs/court performance. The Committee finds it hard to usefully evaluate the limited statistics presented to it relating to court performance. The criminal case backlog project has seen the number of backlog cases in the regional and district courts stabilising between 34 000 and 35 000 cases per month on an outstanding roll of about 200 000 cases. (In June 2006, outstanding cases in Regional Courts were approximately 47 000 cases, of which approximately 20 400 were backlogs. This has dropped to 17 272 backlog cases on an outstanding roll of 49 387 cases at end March 2012; in the District Courts, the backlog intervention (since April 2010) has seen a 22.29% reduction in the number of backlog cases to 17 280 on an outstanding roll of 149 872 at end March 2012). But the project, which attracts earmarked funds, was intended as an interim measure and the Department has indicated that it intends to explore the possibility of creating permanent capacity. The Committee wishes to engage further with the Department on this, given that backlog cases remain high. The Committee addresses its concerns regarding premature enrolment of cases later under the NPA but notes the solutions suggested, including the need for better resourced courts, high calibre court administrators and improved case flow management. The Committee is informed that Chief Justice has actively begun to co- ordinate the roleplayers in addressing case flow management and welcomes this.