NATIONAL NEWS - A Western Cape High Court challenge to South Africa’s cannabis laws has turned into a test of government readiness after several ministries arrived in court without filing their answering papers.

The application was brought by Rastafarian lawyer Gareth Prince, the RasTafari Nation Council and a group of small-scale farmers.

It seeks urgent relief against ongoing arrests, the destruction of cannabis plants and the exclusion of traditional growers from the legal economy.

The case forms part of a broader constitutional challenge to the Cannabis for Private Purposes Act 7 of 2024 and the Hemp Regulations.

When the matter was called on Tuesday 14 April, state respondents, including ministries responsible for policing, trade, and agriculture, told the court they had not filed answering affidavits. 

They said they needed more time and asked that the case be removed from the urgent roll and placed on the ordinary roll. That move would likely have pushed the hearing to late in the year.

The request was refused by Acting Judge Mnengwana. Instead, the court issued a timetable. The respondents have 20 days to file their affidavits and a further 15 days to submit heads of argument. 

The case will resume in the High Court on 8 June.

The author of this article, Ras Hein Scheepers, is the PRO of the Adwa Movement of Azania and a resident of George.

‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’