UNDP Eswatini Resident Representative Henrik Franklin joined judicial officers at the Mbabane Magistrates Court yesterday to observe the country’s expanding virtual remand hearings.
The session connected the court to Sidvwashini Remand Centre through screens, cameras and audio links, allowing 14 accused persons to appear before Principal Magistrate Fikile Nhlabatsi without leaving the facility. The accused were informed of their next court dates, reported health concerns and applied for bail reduction.
Magistrate Nhlabatsi said the digital system has cut costs and improved safety. “Sometimes we have up to 500 accused appearing at once. Transporting them demands extra vehicles and officers, which is expensive and risky because some might attempt to escape,” she explained.
Since its introduction in 2022, the Mbabane court has heard close to 1,500 cases between January and June this year alone, averaging 50 to 60 cases weekly. The initiative has reduced delays linked to long prison transfers and eased the workload of correctional officers.
UNDP has supported the government by providing the technical foundation for the first remote system in Mbabane. The model has since been rolled out to Manzini and Nhlangano courts in 2024, with plans underway to extend it to Siteki, Big Bend and Mawelawela.
Franklin described the system as a step forward in digitising Eswatini’s justice delivery. “This solution makes the justice system more efficient and effective, while directly improving public service delivery,” he said.
The UNDP team also visited Sidvwashini Correctional Centre to assess operations and discuss future expansion. The system now connects police stations, High Courts, correctional facilities and magistrates’ courts, with ongoing work to extend it to bail and plea hearings across all four High Courts.
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