South Africa criminal justice system: Anguish of families waiting for cases to be resolved

With tens of thousands of cases waiting to be heard, some people have to wait four years for their trials to start.

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The problem is that the country's legal system is jammed up and there are tens of thousands of other cases waiting to be heard.

The courts are overwhelmed, with backlogs now so severe that some accused are being given trial dates as far away as four years, violating the principle that justice delayed is justice denied.

Some observers argue that this chips away at faith in the legal system, especially worrying for a country affected by some of the highest crime rates in the world.

Jason, 27, knows the pain of court delays all too well - and says each postponement feels like losing his mother, Charlene, all over again.