Jason Venter has been waiting for his mother's alleged killer to go on trial in South Africa for more than two years, living a life in limbo and hoping to get some closure after her death.
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 knows the pain of court delays all too well - and says each postponement feels like losing his mother, Charlene, all over again. Charlene was 43 and enjoying life as a new grandmother when she was killed in May 2023 in an act of alleged gender-based violence. The accused has remained in custody, but the trial has faced unimaginable delays caused by various administrative hiccups.
These delays have far-reaching effects on families like Jason's, not only emotionally but also financially, as they navigate their lives amidst uncertainty. No healing can be done without putting something to rest. We need clarity. We need to know what happened, reflects Jason.
South Africa's judiciary, with around 250 judges serving over 60 million people, struggles against a backlog of possibly 100,000 cases. Calls for reforms and increased staffing have emerged amidst continued public frustration. As the wait for justice prolongs for many families, hope hangs in the balance.
