Judicial officers ‘feel homeless’ amid planned strike
The Department of Justice says it has warned judicial officers threatening to strike that it is illegal and unbecoming of their role and position.
Magistrates have threatened to lay down their gavels over the pay gap between magistrates and judges.
The department says judicial officers are not employees, and therefore, the Labour Relations Act, which protects striking workers, can't protect them.
The Judicial Officers' Association of South Africa says magistrates have not received cost-of-living adjustments for the last two years.
The association's president, Neelan Karikan, says they've written to Parliament about their frustrations over the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers, which is painstakingly reviewing their salary increases for magistrates.
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He says they feel homeless, as nobody has taken ownership or control over the lower court judiciary.
"It is not our intention to strike. It is not our intention to engage in industrial action, or our priority is to dispense justice without fear, favour, or prejudice. Right now, our dignity has been taken away, we are financially embarrassed, financially strained and the powers that be are allowing the situation to persist."
He has appealed to the Justice Department and Parliament to step up and protect the judiciary.
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