South Africa needs electronic court filing systems to prevent further disappearance of dockets and crucial information, chief justice Mogoeng Mogoeng said on Friday.

“South Africa is in an unfortunate situation where dockets disappear even in the custody of prosecutors,” Mogoeng told parliament’s justice portfolio committee.

“We as the judiciary developed a plan regarding the modernisation of the court system after visiting and studying what other countries such as the USA and Russia are doing. It simply requires an electronic recording system where one or two people have a Pin and manage the electronic filing system,” he said.

The committee, led by chairman Mathole Motshekga, was meeting the heads of the judiciary at the offices of the chief justice in Johannesburg.

The members of the judiciary explained the problems facing court systems and their budget and resources constraints.

Mogoeng said a trend had emerged where records of proceedings disappeared after people were convicted and sentenced.

“…and it happens that a person in prison somehow knows that the records are gone and then institutes an appeal. With their records missing it means the court would have difficulty in executing the appeal effectively.” — Sapa