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Johannesburg – A feminist-leaning directive issued this week on access to a courtroom in the South Gauteng High Court was just an “experiment” by a judge.
Judicial spokesperson Nathi Mncube told The Star yesterday that the directive put in place by Judge Gregory Charles Wright was to test staggered access to the courtroom.
The jargon-laden directive of modern feminism said women and gender-non-compliant lawyers and litigants would enter the civil courtroom to hear unopposed cases.
The men had to wait their turn to be called into the courtroom.
He said, “Only litigants in person and practitioners who are female and practitioners who identify as gender non-conforming may enter the courtroom.
“Male practitioners (must) wait outside the courtroom until they are called.”
The directive came at a time when civil claims brought before the High Court located in the CBD of Joburg were heard virtually due to the specter of Covid-19. Only criminal cases were heard in open court.
Justice Wright’s directive concerned 43 unopposed cases that were heard on Wednesday.
They included five claims that Bridge Taxi Finance has filed against numerous people suspected of being taxi owners. Taxi owners behind on payments were often taken to court for repossessions.
Another notable claim in the role of Judge Wright was brought by the town of Joburg against “those invading” the lands of Ivory Park, near Midrand.
Yesterday, Mncube would not have to comment in detail on the directive.
The Star asked her in particular if the directive with a feminist tendency would not be considered as unnecessarily discriminatory.
In a terse response, Mncube said Gauteng deputy presiding judge Roland Sutherland informed the chief justice’s office that the directive was aimed at verifying whether civil cases could return to open court.
“DJP Sutherland said this was a unique experiment conducted by Judge Wright on staggering access to the courtroom,” Mncube said.
He added that as a result of the experience, civil cases would continue to be heard virtually.
“Hearings will continue on virtual platforms in the future.”
@ BonganiNkosi87
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