Call for more African languages in courts

[dArKeR]

Judge President of the Cape, Justice John Hlophe, says the continued use of English and Afrikaans in South African courts is hampering the transformation of justice.

Addressing the Celebrating a Decade of Democracy conference at the International Convention Centre in Durban, the judge said about 90% of cases heard in the lower courts involved indigenous language speakers.

"For too many years ordinary citizens have been subject to the terrifying ordeal of dealing with a court situation where judicial officers and public prosecutors neither understand nor speak African languages. This must change."

http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=30107