South Africa’s Department of Justice and Constitutional Development will heed advice from the finance minister and ask private companies to help revamp dilapidated court buildings due to budget limitations.

The National Treasury allocated R400-million to the department in the year ending March 2026, well below the R1.6-billion it estimates the upgrades require, Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said in an interview on SAfm radio Wednesday.

While budget talks between the her department and the Treasury continue, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has advised the ministry to improve project management and engage with the government unit that manages state assets as well as the private sector to revive court buildings, she said.

The proposal comes amid concerns that decaying infrastructure and court backlogs are hindering the delivery of justice.

The government of Africa’s most industrialised economy has worked with private companies to improve power infrastructure and wants to extend partnerships to the water and logistics sectors after years of inadequate maintenance, limited investment and poor management.

The department also plans to upgrade security features at courts and has “resuscitated” a committee to help clear case backlogs, the minister said.