Judge warns government of punitive costs on grants cases
Applications for social grants that continue to swamp the rolls of the Durban and Pietermaritzburg High Courts have again raised the ire of Judge Jan Combrink, who has warned that he is considering granting punitive costs orders against the responsible parties in government.
Faced with another dozen such cases on the Durban Motion Court roll, the judged questioned why the matters were again being adjourned, running up legal costs. State Attorney Krish Govender told The Mercury he was aware of the judges comments and was looking into the situation. We are investigating the cause of the problem. We do not want to put difficulties before the courts. Govender said his office did not want to revive the problems of the past and, if officials had to be called to account, then that would be done. However, he apportioned blame to the attorneys representing claimants, saying some were intent on making money by forcing matters on to the court rolls. Full report in The Mercury (subscription needed)