DA parliamentarian Damien Klopper said our local courts are in major need of technological upgrades, and that tech-advancement is no longer optional, but essential for the courts to function properly.

Courts regularly have to deal with dysfunctional recording systems, often spurring sessions to move to alternative courts where recorders are functional.

Klopper visited the courthouse last week during an oversight visit in which he also attended a sitting in the High Court.

Apart from faulty technology, he said that damaged ceilings remain the biggest challenge, following an earlier mishap with an air conditioner duct.

The duct has been fixed, but damage to the ceilings, including open holes, remains an eyesore.

The lack of lighting also seems to be a big problem, as many lights all over the building need globes replacing.

According to Klopper, court staff face daily challenges with connectivity, with many forced to move around inside the building for Wi-Fi coverage to send and receive important emails and documents.

Klopper said that inspections of fire extinguishers revealed they have all been serviced recently and are in working order.

He praised court staff for ‘their positivity and courtesy’, with Klopper adding that he was welcomed warmly despite not giving notice of his intended oversight visit.

It was his second visit to the courts since December last year, with Klopper saying he’s glad to see that his previous complaints, like dysfunctional toilets, had been addressed. He only saw one out-of-order toilet during last week’s visit.

He noted that most of the dysfunctional lights are inside the toilets, but that the globes had been ordered to replace broken ones.

Another worry, Klopper said, is the non-functioning metal detectors and X-ray scanner.

“They are essential to ensure that weapons and other dangerous objects don’t make it into open court,” he said.

Court management accompanied Klopper on his tour, and he was impressed by the ‘willingness’ to address shortcomings.

He intends to visit the court again to see what improvements have been made.

The oversight is part of the DA’s judicial outreach launched by fellow DA parliamentarian Advocate Glynnis Breytenbach.

“In general, the courts were functioning well despite the highlighted challenges,” Klopper said.