The Cabinet has approved the establishment of a small claims court as a matter of urgency to help ease congestion in the country’s overburdened legal system.
This initiative, led by the Ministry of Justice, aims to streamline the handling of minor civil disputes, freeing up higher courts to focus on more complex cases.
“Cabinet reaffirmed Decision No. 2nd/27.02.24/003 and directed the Ministries of Justice and Finance and Public Enterprises to implement the following interventions to address a number of various pressing socio-economic challenges: Implement a small claims court as a matter of urgency to decongest the courts,” said Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Technology Modestus Amutse.
Alongside this, a programme to clear the backlog of deceased estates at the Master of the High Court and the Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) has also been prioritised to ensure faster resolution of estate matters.
Other interventions include reviewing regulations for trust accounts to protect the public from potential abuse by legal professionals, improving the management of the Guardian Fund, and filling vacancies in the legal sector to expedite case resolution and improve access to justice.
“Cabinet approved the proposed recommendation to repeal the Administration of Estates Act, 1965 (Act No. 66 of 1965) and endorsed, in principle, the policy document thereof,” he said.
In tandem with the repeal of the Estates Act, Cabinet has also approved proposed amendments to the Legal Aid Act, 1990 (Act No. 29 of 1990).
These amendments are intended to enhance service delivery within the Ministry of Justice, streamline decision-making processes, and expand access to legal aid for more Namibians, particularly in cases of public interest.
“Enhance access to justice by increasing the coverage of persons through the inclusion of applications which are in the public interest and affecting the livelihoods of citizens,” he said.
