Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng has announced that courts throughout South Africa will “beef up” sanitization in the fight against COVID-19. Courts are not in a place where they can simply close, so sanitization levels must be increased.
Mogoeng has expressed at this stage all courts will go under the decontamination process to ensure any possibility of the virus being present is wiped away.
“Floor and work surfaces of courtrooms and the premises, as well as the workplace with special focus on maintenance and domestic violence, children’s court, must be disinfected with disinfectant material periodically at least twice a day during working hours,” said Mogoeng
All areas that are accessible by the public will be decontaminated and courts will be granted ‘petty cash’ to purchase protective clothing for their staff members.
President Ramaphosa recently declared COVID-19 a national disaster and prohibited mass gatherings, these rules also apply to courtrooms and a limit of 100 people will now be applied.