Chief Justice Maya unveils new sexual harassment policy for judiciary

AS NATIONAL Women’s Day was celebrated on Saturday, Chief Justice Mandisa Maya has announced the introduction of a Sexual Harassment Policy for the South African Judiciary.

- ZELDA VENTER

The Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ) has described it as a historic step in safeguarding the integrity of the courts and protecting the dignity of all who serve within them. The OCJ said this policy reiterates the judiciary’s unwavering commitment to the Constitutional values of human dignity, equality, and justice. It said this sends a clear message that sexual harassment has no place in the halls of justice.

As custodians of the Constitution, Judges and Magistrates bear a profound responsibility to uphold the highest standards of integrity. The Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct and South Africa’s own Judicial Codes of Conduct demand nothing less, the office said in a statement.

It added that where sexual harassment occurs within the judiciary, it is not only a personal violation; it is also an affront to the rule of law itself, eroding public trust and betraying the very principles the institution exists to defend and uphold.