MPs urge magistrates to think again on strike

'You are public servants and you are behaving like a trade union,' ANC MP John Jeffery told the Judicial Officers' Association of SA (Joasa) at a sitting of Parliament's Justice Committee. According to a report on the IoL site, Jeffery asked whether the strike would be legal. DA MP Debbie Schafer said: 'The threat to strike will not do your cause any good.' Joasa president Nazeem Joemath said he was 'appalled' to learn of members' decision to launch a week-long strike from 18 March. However, he said this was a last resort in a long-running pay dispute with the independent remuneration commission. Joemath said 1 300 of the country's 2 000 magistrates were members of Joasa, but it was not clear how many of those would strike. The portfolio committee was hearing presentations by three magistrates' associations, which claim the commission failed to consider their submissions on their salary dispensation. Chief among Joasa's demands is that the commission immediately institutes a single pay structure for all members of the judiciary. According to a Sake24 report, Jeffery responded that if magistrates were to get the same salary as judges it would amount to an 'unjustifiable' increase of 'almost 100%' from their current entry-level salary of R671 000 a year. Full report on the IoL site Full Sake24 report

The Justice Department says it is in ongoing discussions with magistrates, the Independent Remuneration Commission and the Magistrates' Commission in a bid to avert the strike. According to a Beeld report, departmental spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga acknowledged 'magistrates play a crucial role in our criminal justice system', but hoped the discussions would end the strike threat. The Association of Regional Magistrates of SA (Armsa) has formally distanced itself from the threats of a strike. According to the regional magistrates, a strike would be contrary to the principles of magistrates' judicial independence and would undermine public trust in the judiciary. Full Beeld report