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Justice at last

WE APPLAUD the Justice Ministry's efforts to bring justice closer to the people by opening a small claims court in Alexandra.

WE APPLAUD the Justice Ministry's efforts to bring justice closer to the people by opening a small claims court in Alexandra.

Deputy Justice Minister Andries Nel opened the court yesterday to enable ordinary people to have their day in court.

Time was when disagreements over money, rivalry over a lady or territorial turf were settled with knives and fists in the township.

During the times of the Spoilers and Msomi gangs in Alex the sword was mightier than the pen. The only justice available was to be affiliated to a gang or to be close to the street toughie. Life was hard in the Dark City.

The prohibitive cost of litigation has made many swallow insults and accept unpaid debts and blatant theft simply because justice was more expensive than the insult.

Thankfully, those days may be over.

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