Times Of Swaziland: High Court grounded as  recording system fails

High Court grounded as  recording system fails
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STORIES BY MBONGISENI NDZIMANDZE on 28/05/2013 04:50:00


MBABANE - Operations at the High Court were yesterday grounded as the recording
system is not functioning.
One of the cases that had to be postponed to today was that of Senate President
and acting Chief of KoNtshingila, Gelane Jane Simelane who is suing the Times of
Swaziland for  E2 million for alleged defamation. The case was expected to
continue yesterday before High Court Judge Nkululeko Hlophe.
It was after it was discovered that the recording system in most courts was
non-functional that the judge met with legal representatives of the two parties
where it was agreed that the matter be postponed to today.
Also postponed was the case of Madlenya Irrigation Scheme versus Mthinini
Dlamini which was expected to be heard for trial before Judge Mumcy Dlamini.
Only the Supreme Court Judges continued to hear cases despite that the recording
machine in the courtroom they were using was also reported to be faulty.
The Supreme Court Judges who consisted of the Chief Justice Michael Ramodibedi,
Judge Bheki Maphalala and Judge Esther Ota were using Court A. Information
gathered was that the recording system had not been functioning for close to a
week and this anomaly was once reported to the authorities at the High Court.
The court recording is one of the basic components in courtrooms equipping with
up-to-date facilities of court procedures automation.
The system considerably simplifies overall work of secretaries.
Recordings in any court are key as they are also used for reference purposes,
mostly during appeals.