The 100-Day Challenge goal
The team set out to reduce the backlog of cases older than two years by 25%, and to have witnesses testify virtually in 5% of matters.
The team
The challenge draws on magistrates, prosecutors and Legal Aid representatives working across the same roll. During the 100 days the team brought in two new partners, the NGO Thy Rest and the Caroline Thema Foundation, both of whom stayed engaged throughout the period.
What they are doing
The team committed to spending five hours or more in court each day, a promise they have kept where circumstances allow. They are running the Worthy Witness Project, started two years ago when Seshego first took on a 100-Day Challenge, which supplies witnesses with packages of personal items matched to their circumstances. They coordinate through WhatsApp, posting court progress for the full week so the whole team can see where matters stand, and they meet in person when a decision needs one. During Child Protection Week they visited Ngwana House in Polokwane to deliver items contributed by court staff.
Progress
Four backlog cases have been finalised. Nine matters had witnesses testify virtually. Several remaining cases are at judgment stage and others at sentencing, and the team expects those to finalise on or before day 100. The largest constraint has been June, when magistrates, prosecutors and Legal Aid representatives were on annual leave at the same time.
Seshego Regional Court