The Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development will be conducting oversight visits to its courts within KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) this week.

Portfolio Committees consider Bills, deal with departmental budget votes, oversee the work of the department they are responsible for, and enquire and make recommendations about any aspect of the department, including its structure, functioning, and policy.

The committee will also be visiting the provincial office of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC).

The oversight visits come after numerous complaints were received about the SAHRC in the province.

Committee chairperson, Xola Nqola, said it held a meeting where the Commissioner responded to the complaints which included allegations of a toxic environment at the SAHRC office in the province.

“The committee resolved to have a meeting with the staff of the commission so that it could get a better understanding of the complaints. The committee has already visited the Western Cape and Gauteng SAHRC provincial offices,” Nqola said.

As part of its visit, the committee will be visiting various courts and entities under its portfolio to assess service delivery and the state of the infrastructure.

The courts include the Durban High Court, Durban Magistrate's Court, Point Family Court, and the Umlazi Magistrate's Court.

The committee will also be visiting the KZN Public Protector’s Office, the Durban Master’s Office, and the Durban State Attorney's Office.

The committee will begin its visits at the Umlazi Magistrate’s Court on Monday until 1pm; thereafter, the Umlazi Thuthuzela Care Centre will be visited.

robin.francke@iol.co.za

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