Urgent solutions for court interpreter shortage

THE Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DoJCD) has acknowledged the shortage of court interpreters and is working on strategic initiatives to tackle the problem.

- THEOLIN TEMBO. [e-mail]

This comes after the South Africa Registered Court Translators & Interpreters (SARCTI) highlighted the significant shortage of interpreters — both in sign language and spoken languages — and sworn translators within the South African judiciary. They said the matter necessitates an urgent strategic overhaul.

The issue was first brought to the public's attention back in 2022 when the Public Service Commission (PSC) commissioner Anele Gxoyiya lamented the general lack of sign language interpreters working in the government, but did not give a complete account of the issue.

The lack of court interpreters has also made headlines when cases were repeatedly delayed due to not having interpreters. The PSC was contacted to provide an update on this, but redirected inquiries to the DoJCD.