Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has called on the country's top judges to help speed up the process of the transformation of the judiciary.
"The constitution lays down an important foundation for a democratic society in which various cultural and linguistic communities are bound by one common objective of building a nation united in its diversity.
"When we speak about judicial transformation, we are doing so to promote the implementation of provisions of the constitution, as transformation is constitutionally sanctioned," President Zuma said.
He was speaking at the second Judicial Conference for judges in Pretoria on Monday.
The President also used the opportunity to urge the judges to ensure that justice was accessible to all sectors of society, including the poor and the marginalised.
"Transformation, to ensure improved access to justice, must address issues of language, procedures and process, as well as other issues that may alienate the poor from the justice system," he said.
Judicial transformation went beyond the composition of the judiciary in terms of gender and race.
"Transformation should also mean the appointment of judges who are committed to the new democratic order. It means increased access to justice for all sectors of society including the poor and marginalised," the President said.
He said lack of financial resources remained a major barrier for the poor to access the courts.
President Zuma called for the review of the legal aid board to ensure that it carried out its mandate to assist the most vulnerable to access judicial services.
"Some of the poverty-related factors which inhibit access to courts include the long distances that people have to travel in order to access the courts and related services," he pointed out.
Chief Justice Pius Langa also expressed confidence in the country's justice system saying it has gone a long way since 1994.
However, much needed to be done to ensure South Africa's court system competed among the best in the world.
"I urge you to take strides to develop South Africa's justice system and urge you to do all you can to fast track this," said Justice Langa who will be retiring later this year.
He also voiced his concern about the apparent low representation of women in the country's highest courts.
"We are still very far in as far as gender balance is concerned," said Chief Justice Langa.
Other issues to be tackled by the conference include access to quality justice, the state of court rolls and backlogs in cases.
