http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=129&fArticleId=3062679
Tania Broughton
"Virtual courtrooms where awaiting-trial prisoners will appear before magistrates via video conferencing facilities are on the cards for South Africa. This follows the early success of a pilot project at the Durban and Pinetown magistrate's courts. Already at Court 10 in Durban, where people accused of serious and violent crimes make their pre-trial court appearances, more than half the court roll is being dealt with using the technology. The prisoners do not leave Westville Prison. Instead, they appear before the magistrate on a television set in the courtroom. There is two-way interaction and the camera pans to the person speaking at the time. There are also facilities for private telephone conversations with attorneys and the exchange of documents via fax.
It is estimated that it will save the government millions of rands in prisoner transportation costs. And it will cut back on the risk of prisoner violence in police vans, attacks on court orderlies and prisoner escapes."
