There is a new recommendation to move the High Court seat from Makhanda to Bhisho, and to reduce the jurisdiction area of the Makhanda High Court by two thirds.

The ripple effect of moving the seat of the High Court from Makhanda after 146 years is indefensible, and would not only prove crippling for the city, but in socio-economic terms would be nothing short of catastrophic for a large segment of the city’s community and the local economy, as it would also mean that the offices of the Master of the High Court and the National Director of Public Prosecutions would also be forced to move from Makhanda. 

Uprooting the seat of the Court would be disruptive to the administration of justice in the province.

The Makhanda High Court Action Committee (which successfully opposed the last attempt 12 years ago to move the court) will make written submissions to the Commission in order to oppose the move, armed with an economic impact study.

Please sign this petition and have your voice heard.

Or make your own written submission to the Rationalisation Committee and submit it by email, before 31 January 2023, to Mr Makena Moagi on makmoagi@justice.gov.za or sseakamela@justice.gov.za

For more information on the Commission and its recommendations, to read a summary of the previous 2010 submissions made to the Minister of Justice to oppose the move, please click here.

The Makhanda High Court Action Committee started this petition.

Email: makhandahighcourtaction@gmail.com
Tel: 0466227005/0839971554