Magistrates lay down gauntlet

2003-06-17 09:17

Philip de Bruin

Johannesburg - The conflict between the government and the judiciary about criticism of the working hours of judges and regional magistrates, has taken another turn with an "open challenge" by regional magistrates

The challenge has been made by Adriaan Bekker, president of the associaiton of regional magistrates, Armsa.

"Bring us facts and details of regional magistrates and regional prosecutors who manipulate court proceedings to be able to work on Saturdays to get overtime pay. Don't make sweeping statements and insinuations," said Bekker.

This follows concern expressed by S Jiyane, director of court services in the department of justice, at a meeting of Parliament's portfolio committee on justice. He said the court hours of "certain regional courts" had declined during the week and thought it could be to allow court sessions on Saturdays.

Committee chairperson advocate Johnny de Lange suggested at the time that court proceedings on Saturdays be monitored and that regional courts which do not have at least a four-hour session daily during the week, should not be allowed to have sessions on Saturdays.

At the same meeting, De Lange also referred to the salaries of judges and said it was "scandalous" that the hours spent in high courts totalled only three hours 20 minutes per day.

The judge presidents were in uproar following that statement and insisted that Dr Penuell Maduna, minister of justice, stood up for them, but he declined.

Bekker said: "I want to know what the basis of Jiyane and De Lange's statements regarding regional courts are. Why was the so-called concern not discussed with Armsa or the regional court presidents before discussing the matter in public?"

- Beeld