Vusi Ndlovu
Vusi Ndlovu
The judge in the case of former Scorpions senior prosecutor Portia Kgantsi yesterday took a swipe at the government over "appalling conditions" in the Johannesburg high court.
A broken air conditioner in court 2A led to Judge Ezra Goldstein's outburst.
"We cannot work under these conditions. The air conditioner is not working.
"There is a judge who cannot get to his office because the lift is not working.
"I am told the public toilets are terrible. There is no excuse for this," Goldstein said.
He blamed the Department of Justice for the state of the court building.
"It is not our responsibility to fix things in the building. It is the Department of Justice that administers the courts," said a furious Goldstein.
"This affects our work. The accused is not feeling well and she has to sit in this court under these conditions.
"If it was not for the accused, who has been in custody for a year, I would postpone this case."
Kgantsi, 39, is facing several charges that include corruption, extortion, attempted theft, attempting to defeat the ends of justice and providing false information.
Attempts to get comment from the Department of Justice were unsuccessful.
l See editorial comment on page 14.
Angry judge lambasts state
Vusi Ndlovu
Vusi Ndlovu
The judge in the case of former Scorpions senior prosecutor Portia Kgantsi yesterday took a swipe at the government over "appalling conditions" in the Johannesburg high court.
A broken air conditioner in court 2A led to Judge Ezra Goldstein's outburst.
"We cannot work under these conditions. The air conditioner is not working.
"There is a judge who cannot get to his office because the lift is not working.
"I am told the public toilets are terrible. There is no excuse for this," Goldstein said.
He blamed the Department of Justice for the state of the court building.
"It is not our responsibility to fix things in the building. It is the Department of Justice that administers the courts," said a furious Goldstein.
"This affects our work. The accused is not feeling well and she has to sit in this court under these conditions.
"If it was not for the accused, who has been in custody for a year, I would postpone this case."
Kgantsi, 39, is facing several charges that include corruption, extortion, attempted theft, attempting to defeat the ends of justice and providing false information.
Attempts to get comment from the Department of Justice were unsuccessful.
l See editorial comment on page 14.
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