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The government wants to reduce state litigation costs by 70%, default judgments by 100%, and recover 100% in legal costs.
This, through the intergovernmental state litigation forum, was launched on Friday by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The forum consists of heads of the state attorney offices, and heads of legal services within the state departments, and Ramaphosa said this was an urgent step is needed to ensure the government takes better control of its litigation process.
"The fact that some South Africans are resorting to the courts to uphold their rights points to widespread and systemic shortcomings in service delivery.
"Our first responsibility as government is to ensure that we address all these shortcomings and that all persons in this country are able to fully exercise their rights. That, first and foremost, is how we will reduce legal action being taken against the State," he said.
The President highlighted that state litigation costs have become "untenable and unsustainable" and must be addressed.
"Litigation against the state has risen by staggering levels. The legal fees for national and provincial spheres of government over the past five financial years amount to approximately R7 billion," Ramaphosa said.
He said mediation in good faith as a means to avoid going to court is a way that can reduce litigation costs without "short-changing" citizens.
"When people are concerned about anything that affects their lives, there needs to be engagement, there needs to be discussion and there needs to be negotiation to see the extent to which matters can be resolved.
President Ramaphosa raised concern about what he called a lack of coordination in government when dealing with litigation.
(Additional source: SAnews.gov.za)
