President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned that delayed and inaccessible justice undermines democracy, calling for a justice system that serves all citizens regardless of their financial status.
He was speaking at the International Conference on Access to Justice at the Sun City Convention Centre in the North West on Thursday.
Ramaphosa identified poverty, high legal costs and complicated court procedures as major barriers preventing ordinary people from accessing justice.
“Justice that is inaccessible is justice that is denied. And justice that is delayed, corrupted or reserved for the privileged undermines democracy itself,” he said.
He called for stronger legal aid services, independent courts and accessible community-based legal assistance, while cautioning that technology should not create further barriers for digitally excluded communities.
The conference brings together government officials, judicial representatives, legal professionals and civil society organisations to discuss strengthening people-centred justice systems.
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