Court Watching Brief

The Court Watching Brief Unit was introduced by the Department of Community Safety to act in accordance with the Constitutional provisions contained in Section 206 (3) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996, which provides interalia that every province is entitled to monitor police conduct and report inefficiencies. This is also done in accordance with the Western Cape Community Safety Act. (Act No 3 of 2013) in particular Section 3. Members of the Court Watching Brief Unit attend courts to observe the procedures in court in order to detect inefficiencies of the police. When inefficiencies are detected, a comprehensive report is compiled. The report is then inter alia referred to the Provincial Commissioner of the SA Police Service for his attention and action. The report is also forwarded to the Portfolio Committee on Community Safety. The Provincial Commissioner will then respond to the Department or he may be requested by the Portfolio Committee to appear before it and to account for the inefficiencies.

Click here to download the information brochure. 

Contact:
Adv Anthea Michaels
Tel : 021 483 2633
Email: Anthea.Michaels@westerncape.gov.za