RESIDENTS of Galeshewe remain in limbo as the long-promised reopening of the Galeshewe Magistrate’s Court faces yet another delay, with no confirmed completion date in sight.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Northern Cape has expressed growing frustration over what it describes as a lack of transparency and urgency from the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.

DA Member of Parliament and Northern Cape representative in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), Ofentse Mokae, released a statement this week criticising the department for failing to meet earlier assurances that the court would reopen within the current financial year. Instead, new information reveals that the appointment of a contractor to begin remedial work is now only expected by January 2026.

“The community is tired of empty promises,” Mokae said. “We were told the court would reopen soon, but now there’s no practical completion date and no scheduled inspection from the Department of Labour to lift the prohibition notice.”

The Galeshewe Magistrate’s Court has been non-operational since July 2023, when the Department of Labour ordered its closure due to serious structural defects that posed a danger to both staff and the public.

Initially, services were temporarily moved to the Galeshewe police station, but by January 2024, operations were fully shifted to the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court - causing added pressure on that facility and placing a financial burden on Galeshewe residents who now have to travel into town for court matters.

According to a written parliamentary reply provided by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, the Galeshewe court building suffers from several concerning defects. Investigations by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) revealed multiple issues: detached plaster from reinforced concrete surfaces, significant cracking and shifting in the brickwork and concrete, especially around expansion joints, and visible signs of structural instability.

A formal project has been registered with the DPWI to address these issues. However, critical appointments - such as structural and mechanical engineers and an Occupational Health and Safety Agent - are only expected to be finalised by September 2025. Once these professionals are in place, they will conduct thorough assessments, design plans, and draft Bills of Quantities before a service provider can be appointed to carry out the repair work.

The department further indicated that only after this stage will cost estimates be available. Actual construction is projected to take a further six months following the contractor’s appointment - meaning the court may only be fully operational by mid-2026 at the earliest, assuming no further delays.

The delay has wider implications beyond infrastructure. Mokae warned that the situation is worsening access to justice for Galeshewe residents.

“This isn’t just about a building - it’s about people’s rights. The additional load on Kimberley’s court system is worsening the backlog of cases, and residents who cannot afford transport are left vulnerable,” he said.

Mokae has committed to continuing his efforts in Parliament and within the NCOP’s Select Committee on Security and Justice. He is demanding that the Department of Justice present a clear mitigation strategy to address the bottlenecks and ensure that justice is not withheld from the Galeshewe community any longer.

“While the fate of the current Galeshewe court building hangs in the balance, justice for the Galeshewe community cannot,” Mokae said.

As the wait drags on, the residents of Galeshewe are left to navigate a justice system that feels increasingly distant – both geographically and institutionally. For them, the reopening of the local court is not just a matter of bricks and mortar; it is a critical step toward restoring dignity, access, and trust in the judicial system.

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Justice delayed: Galeshewe court building remains closed