MBABANE: Principal Judge Qinisile Mabuza said the judiciary should be seen promoting fundamental rights and freedoms including the rights of women as enshrined in the Constitution.
Speaking to this Swaziland News during an interview regarding her role in promoting justice particularly the rights of women, the highly regarded Judge said upholding the rule of law remains the fundamental role of the judiciary. As part of One Billion Rising Africa Campaign to fight Gender Based Violence(GBV) the Judge was interviewed with other high profile public figures that include Members of Parliament(MPs) who played a significant role in promoting the rights of women.
“The role of the Judiciary is to uphold the rule of law. This includes respecting, upholding and enforcing the fundamental rights and freedoms that are enshrined in Chapter 3 of the constitution”, she said.
The Honourable Judge commended the achievement by stakeholders in passing into law the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) Act adding that it was encouraging to see Magistrate Courts actively applying it.
“A critical achievement is the passing into law of the SODV Act .The Magistrate Courts are actively applying it and this is immensely commendable”, said the Judge,
Judge Mabuza has been instrumental in promoting justice particularly for women, she delivered a judgement that opened the door to women married in community of property to register immovable property in their own names. However, the Supreme Court through the then Chief Justice disagreed saying women were not ready to manage their own affairs.
“I sat alone and opened the door to women married in community of property to register immovable property in their own names but the Supreme Court disagreed and said as per Ramodibedi’s ruling that women were not ready to manage their own affairs and instead decided that women married in community of property could jointly register immovable property with their husbands. For years the Deeds Office was registering in the husbands names only”, said the Judge.
Principal Judge Qinisile Mabuza