The role of the presiding officer in South African child justice proceedings : a comparative critique of procedural models

Abstract

This research explores the role of the presiding officer in child justice proceedings in South Africa, Germany, and Scotland. The researcher investigates the active participation of the presiding officer as a feature of the inquisitorial nature of the proceedings created by the Child Justice Act, 75 of 2008 and its associated regulations. The researcher points out recurrent controversial and procedurally problematic concerns based on the mode or model of justice, which tend toward problematising the child justice space as far as the role of the presiding officer during various stages of the process. The researcher further explores challenges in the application of best interest standard to child offenders by presiding officers and the impact it has on child justice proceedings. The comparative analysis of different jurisdictions assists in indicating how the best interest standard is applied in practice. It also aids in pointing out the shortfall and inability of the Child Justice Act, 75 of 2008, to fulfil its primary objectives. The researcher makes recommendations and offers solutions to assist presiding officers in applying the best interest standard while prosecuting child offenders in South Africa.

Phuputso ena e hlahloba karolo ea ofisiri e okametseng linyeoe tsa toka ea bana Afrika Boroa, Jeremane le Scotland. Mofuputsi o batlisisa bonkakarolo bo mahlahahlaha ba ofisiri e okametseng e le tšobotsi ea botlokotsebe ba linyeoe tse entsoeng ke Molao oa Toka ea Bana, 75 oa 2008 le melaoana e amanang le ona. Mofuputsi o supa lipelaelo tse lulang li phehisana khang le mathata a tsamaiso ho latela mokhoa kapa mohlala oa toka o atisang ho bea bothata boemong ba toka ea bana ho fihlela karolo ea mosebetsi oa ofisiri e okametseng mekhahlelong e fapaneng ea ts'ebetso. Mofuputsi o tsoela pele ho hlahloba mathata a ho sebelisoa ha maemo a molemo ka ho fetisisa ho batlōli ba molao ba bana ke liofisiri tse okamelang le phello eo e nang le eona tsamaisong ea toka ea ngoana. Tlhahlobo ea papiso ea libaka tse fapaneng e thusa ho bonts'a hore na boemo bo botle ba phaello bo sebelisoa joang ts'ebetsong. E boetse e thusa ho supa kgaello le ho se kgone ha Molao wa Toka ya Bana ho phethahatsa maikemisetso a ona a mantlha. Mofuputsi o fana ka likhothaletso le ho fana ka litharollo tse tla thusa ts'ebelisong ea boemo bo holimo ba thahasello.

Lolu cwaningo luhlola indima yesikhulu esingamele ekuqulweni kwamacala ezingane eNingizimu Afrika, eJalimane naseScotland. Umcwaningi uphenya ukubamba iqhaza okubonakalayo kwesikhulu esiphezulu njengesici sokuqulwa kwecala lokuqulwa kwecala okudalwe uMthetho Wobulungiswa Bezingane, wama-75 wezi-2008 kanye nemithethonqubo ehambisana nawo. Umcwaningi uveza ukukhathazeka okuphindelelayo okuyimpikiswano kanye nenkinga yenqubo okusekelwe kumodi noma imodeli yobulungisa evame ukufaka inkinga isikhala sobulungiswa bezingane njengoba nje kuyindima yesiphathimandla esiphethe phakathi nezigaba ezihlukahlukene zenqubo. Umcwaningi uqhubeka nokuhlola izinkinga ekusetshenzisweni kwezinga lenzuzo engcono kakhulu kwabenzi bobubi bezingane yizikhulu ezingamele kanye nomthelela enawo ekuqulweni kwecala lezingane. Ukuhlaziywa okuqhathanisayo kwezindawo ezahlukene kusiza ukukhombisa ukuthi izinga lenzuzo engcono lisetshenziswa kanjani ekusebenzeni. Usiza futhi ekuvezeni ukushoda kanye nokwehluleka koMthetho Wezobulungiswa Bezingane ukufeza izinjongo zawo eziyinhloko. Umcwaningi wenza izincomo futhi anikeze izixazululo ezizosiza ekusetshenzisweni kwezinga lenzuzo engcono kakhulu.