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Resistance to the Makhanda High Court relocation

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Dear Editor

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is strongly opposed to the recommendation in the Moseneke report, that recommends that the seat of the Eastern Cape High Court be moved from Makhanda to Bhisho.

This decision by the committee will cost the Makana Municipality at least 5000 jobs. Countless other people are also dependent on these jobs, and they will also lose their livelihoods.

Makhanda cannot afford to lose a single employer. The state of the municipality is incredibly fragile, and the local economy is in a state of decline. Moving the seat of the High Court to Bhisho may be the final nail in the coffin of the municipality.

The High Court has proven decisive in holding the Makana Municipality accountable, when national and provincial government have failed to do so.

Rhodes University also provides several legal resources as well as a skilled legal fraternity. By moving the High Court seat, these resources will no longer be on the doorstep of the courts and trained/qualified legal personnel will have to look elsewhere for opportunities.

The DA wants to make it clear that the recommendation made in the report, does not make the decision final. The seat of the High Court is awarded through an Act of Parliament, and the current Act has awarded this seat to Makhanda. Therefore, the DA will take this fight to Parliament, where the ANC government will have to amend the legislation to move the seat of the High Court to Bhisho.

We will join the whole of society in the Makana Municipality and surrounding communities to oppose this issue in the interest of the residents. We cannot allow that the local economy be compromised any further.

Regards

Andrew Whitfield MP
DA EC Provincial Leader

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