Chairperson, if only for the record, we rise to explain why we support Vote No 24. We do so because of several bold initiatives and developments we have witnessed in the recent past. The signing of the proclamation putting into place the Office of the Chief Justice is an important step in the broadening of judicial independence. The creation of the Office of the Chief Justice is recognition of the constitutional imperative that the judicial authority is vested in the courts and that organs of state, through legislative and other measures, must assist and protect the courts to ensure their independence, impartiality, dignity, accessibility and effectiveness. The ANC also welcomes the Minister's zero-tolerance approach to qualified audits in his department, as well as the fact that this approach is shared by the top management of his department. We also welcome the proposed expansion of the jurisdiction of the Judge President to include magistrates' courts within their respective division. Moreover, the widening of the justice footprint by the building of High Courts in Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces is an important, albeit long overdue, development.
Finally, the ANC welcomes the fact that Legal Aid South Africa has recorded a 100% success rate in cases before the Supreme Court of Appeal in February and March of this year. For these and many other reasons, the ANC supports this Vote. Thank you.
Vote agreed to (Democratic Alliance dissenting).
Vote No 25 - Police - put.
Declarations of vote: