Sexual offences courts working soon: Justice Department

More than 50 sexual offences courts should be up and running soon, justice department director general Nonkuleleko Sindane said on Thursday.

"About 58 have the infrastructure," Sindane said on the sidelines of a briefing on the department's five-year plan to Parliament's justice portfolio committee.

She said just more than 40 such courts were in "a reasonable state" of operation at the moment, but not all fulfilled the necessary criteria.

Sindane said Justice Minister Jeff Radebe was expected to make a statement on the matter "soon".

It has been given considerable attention during this week's public hearings on the strategic plan.

On Tuesday, gender activists who appeared before the committee said it appeared only five such specialised courts countrywide were fully functional.

The plan provides for 90 to be established by 2018, but presenters said the department's policy framework was so scant on budgeting and implementation detail that it was unlikely the objective would be met.

Radebe announced last year that sexual offences courts would be reintroduced, amid pressure on the government, to show greater commitment to combating sexual violence.