Durban magistrate reveals daily struggles and safety concerns

“WE NEED CHANGE’

- YOSHINI PERUMAL [e-mail]

JUDICIAL officials take a stand: advocating for better pay and recognition in the South African judicial system.

(TUMI PAKKIES Independent Newspapers)

AFTER decades of silence, a veteran magistrate has spoken out about crumbling courtrooms, personal safety risks and financial hardships that are driving professionals from the judiciary.

Her testimony reveals a justice system on the brink of collapse.

The 59-year-old Durban magistrate, who will not be named for fear of victimisation, said a day in her life was not as easy as one would think.

“Tt was a culmination of challenges that led me to join the picket during our lunch break to highlight the disparities, so that the upcoming generation of magistrates do not face the same problems that we do.

“I work in difficult conditions and my safety has been breached many times, because our safety is not given priority. We walk among the public in court and we do not earn enough to live in secure homes. We live in communities where we deny bail to alleged perpetrators of crime,” she said.

“The question is: who is choosing to neglect us? We are the judiciary and we do 95% of the work. Who wants the judiciary to collapse? It goes deeper than these issues. Who wants this country to not have law and order?”

The Reservoir Hills resident, who has been a magistrate for 24 years, said for far too long magistrates had been quiet about their challenges not being addressed.

“We did not want to do this, but it had come to this. We face victimisation from bosses, and bullying in the workplace. We do not know what awaits us after we picketed, and there will be victimisation, but enough is enough.

“Tomorrow I can take my money and leave (retire), but there is a whole generation coming forth who will experience what we had endured if we do not fight for what is important and right, and that is the upliftment of the entire judiciary.