Taking on End GBVF 100-Day Challenges, the Lephalale court team wanted to make a significant impact on the backlog of GBVF-related cases and improve the overall turnaround time for cases. Let’s look at the ambitious goals set by the team, the results achieved, and the strategies that led to their success.

Ambitious Goals to reduce the backlog of cases

The Lephalale court team established clear and measurable goals to address the backlog of GBVF-related cases and enhance the efficiency of their court processes. They aimed to eliminate the backlog in both domestic violence and maintenance cases. Improving the turnaround time for cases was another key focus, ensuring that justice was delivered more swiftly. Additionally, the team targeted a 70% reduction in the backlog of sexual offence cases and a 60% reduction in the backlog of divorce cases.

Celebrating the results

The results of the 100-Day Challenge were nothing short of impressive. At the start of the challenge, there were 320 backlog divorce cases, a number that was dramatically reduced to just 74 cases by the end, achieving a 76% reduction. 

The backlog of sexual offence cases was reduced from 29 to 9, representing a 69% reduction. 

The turnaround time for domestic violence cases improved significantly, decreasing from an average of 30 days to just 21 days. 

For maintenance cases, the turnaround time was cut in half, improving from 30 days to just 14 days. 

Strategies That Led to Success

Several strategies contributed to the success of the Lephalale court team during the 100-Day Challenge. They conducted two outreach programs, focusing on raising awareness and providing education on GBVF issues. These programs were held at two local schools.

The team ensured that all stakeholders were actively involved and committed to the challenge, allowing them to push through many cases more efficiently. Encouraged by the success of the first challenge, the Lephalale court team has committed to participating in another End GBVF 100-Day Challenge. The results of the first challenge have not only created more efficiency within their court but have also set a new standard for how GBVF-related cases should be handled.