Concern over magistrates' strike
2013-03-18 10:42
Johannesburg - If magistrates go ahead with a planned strike
on Monday, it would jeopardise the welfare of the people they are obliged to
render a service to, the office of the chief justice said.
"Should the strike action materialise, it would be
regrettable," it said in a statement.
"It should also be stated that the Office of the Chief
Justice is satisfied that the magistrates' commission... has put in place
adequate measures to deal with any disruptions that may arise from the
impending strike action."
Pay demands
The strike was expected to begin on Monday. Magistrates want
a single pay structure for the judiciary: one that would have their salaries
and benefits put on the same sliding scale as those of judges. This could see
their salaries increase by almost 100%.
On Sunday justice department spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga said
the strike would cause little disruption, as acting magistrates had been
appointed.
Acting magistrates would deal with cases that were ready to
proceed.
Mhaga said magistrates were classified as public office
bearers and, as such, "whatever they do is illegal".
Magistrates who join the strike could face disciplinary
action or even impeachment, he said.
If members of the public experienced problems on Monday,
they should contact the court managers, who would be at all the courts.
Mhaga said the justice department was working to ensure that
salary adjustments of 5.5% for 1912 magistrates would be implemented by 15 April
and backdated to the beginning of that month.
BDLive reported that the Association of Regional Magistrates
of SA had been to court once over the salary structure of magistrates and won.
The matter had been taken on appeal to the Constitutional Court. Judgment was
expected soon.
The main contention was that the commission was failing to
consult magistrates before ruling on salary increases.
- SAPA
