Parliament has decided to increase the budget for the government legal aid pilot project, following the exceptional growth it continues to record since it was started last year in September, says Attorney General Athalia Molokomme.   
“Parliament has voted P30 million for the project,” she said during the Attorney General Chambers press briefing on Monday.
She indicated that it has the capability to deliver justice to the poor and ultimately to everybody. As a result, they have also requested for more funding to expand it during NDP 10 period.
The Attorney General said they have taken a decision not to consider it as a temporary pilot project, as a result of the progress that it continues to record.
The Interim Coordinator for the project, Peter Brits, said since July this year, they have handled around 1000 cases and hope this will eventually increase as more people get to know about the free legal aid services.
This is an increase from the 394 cases, which were recorded from September last year to June this year. He said as the scheme expands and reaches more people, it is likely to become an independent legal aid parastatal. He said the scheme is independent from the government and can act against her.
“We need the media to not only get the message out to everyone but also to counter the idea that ‘free’ lawyers are no good. The lawyers are not free; the state pays for their services. We also need to assure everyone that these lawyers are impartial, they do not act for ‘the government’, they offer fair and equitable access to justice,” said Brits.
He said even though the scheme is for citizens only, they can make exceptions for refugees.
He said due to budgetary constraints, they would for the mean time cover civil matters and the scheme will in the future expand to handle criminal matters.
“Hopefully, as resources become available, we will cover criminal matters. We are already on plans to expand and assist minors in criminal cases. When people cannot access justice, they cannot enforce or protect their rights,” said Brits.
He added that through free professional legal service from private lawyers provided by the law society, NGO’s and admitted legal practitioners employed in the Attorney General’s office, the legal aid is prepared to sort out legal problems such as family matters, employment issues and lawsuits.
He said it is also an advice clinic.
“People can go there for help before things go wrong and get advice on contracts, statutory rights and employment or property contracts,” said Brits.
