Magistrates threaten to go on strike
2013-03-11 10:32
East London - Magistrate's courts across the country are
facing a total shutdown as magistrates threaten to go on strike if their
salaries are not adjusted, the Daily Dispatch reported on Monday.
The national executive of the Judicial Officers' Association
of SA (Joasa) met in Port Elizabeth over the weekend and confirmed their
intention to strike if their pay demands were not met, the report said.
Magistrates rejected the five percent salary recommendation
made by the Independent Remuneration Commission and said that the commission
had failed to correct flaws in its recommendation.
The strike was expected to start on 18 March.
There were serious implications if the strike were to go
ahead.
Awaiting trial prisoners needed J7 forms to be signed by
magistrates in order to keep them detained.
If not signed, they may have to be sent home.
Justice spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga told the Dispatch the
department was confident that talks with magistrates would yield results and
avert the strike.
- SAPA
