DA puts Maduna under pressure
2003-06-14 17:10
Johannesburg - Justice Minister Penuell Maduna must denounce ANC MP Johnny de Lange's recent comments that high court judges were overpaid and doing too little work, the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Saturday.
According to the DA, de Lange allegedly said last weekend that judges were getting too much money considering the fact that courts sat an average of only 3.5 hours a day.
The statement was made in the presence of deputy chief justice Pius Langa.
De Lange made the remarks in spite of the fact that Langa had pointed out there were many and complex reasons for this, including a shortage of interpreters, court orderlies, other security personnel and legal aid representatives as well as the inefficiency of correctional services.
"It is time de Lange and Maduna realised that this constant sniping from the political sidelines undermines the independence of the institution of the judiciary, which is one of the pillars of our constitution and the guardian of the rule of law," the DA said.
On Friday, Maduna was singled out for criticism at a special meeting convened in Cape Town of all the judge presidents of the various divisions of the country's high courts.
"While utterances by ill-informed politicians are to be deprecated, we feel particularly distressed by the attitude of the minister of justice who, either actively associated himself therewith or if not, fails to take any steps to dissociate the government therefrom," Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe said after the meeting.
Hlophe said his peers noted the recent proceedings of the Parliamentary Justice Committee hearings, saying that it had been characterised by "scurrilous attacks" on the independence, integrity and dignity of the judiciary, both in respect of magistrates and the judges of the high court.
"These attacks, according to newspaper reports, ranged from accusing magistrates and judges of incompetence to accusing the magistracy of fraudulently manipulating their court hours so that they could earn extra money for overtime work."
Chaskalson's meeting with Maduna
Meanwhile Chief Justice Arthur Chaskalson said on Saturday he had had a meeting with Maduna on Tuesday to express his concerns about media reports of the Parliamentary Justice Committee hearings, which had only just been brought to his attention.
He said he had attended one of the hearings the day before he met the minister, but had been treated there with nothing but "courtesy" and had not come across any comment that suggested "members of the committee lacked respect for the judiciary".
"The minister assured me that the government holds the judiciary in high regard. He said the proper time to deal with these matters would be during his budget debate.
"He would do so then and would take that opportunity of affirming the government's respect for the independence and integrity of the judiciary," said Chaskalson.
The debate will take place on Tuesday, June 17. Chaskalson said that under the circumstances, he preferred to say nothing more until the budget debate took place.
Justice Department spokesperson Paul Setsetse could not be reached for comment.
- SAPA