Judicial appointments: A critical step towards justice

THE Magistrate's Commission will interview more than 290 candidates from May 5 for posts at courts across the country in a bid to address the workload of magistrates in the lower courts.

- ZELDA VENTER [e-mail]

Judges Matter, a transparency project which keeps an eye on judicial matters, said that in a justice system already stretched to breaking point, the appointment of magistrates is not a side issue - it is central to ensuring access to justice in South Africa.

The Magistrates Commission has published a shortlist of the candidates, which Judges Matter said is a critical development.

“With only around 2 000 magistrates currently serving more than 60 million people, these appointments will shape the delivery of justice for millions of South Africans - particularly the most vulnerable”

Judges Matter believe that magistrates are the judiciary’s front line.

They are the ones South Africans encounter when reporting gender-based violence, when family disputes end-up in court, when bail is granted or denied, and when criminal matters are heard.

“They are the faces of justice in suburbs, towns and cities, from Mthatha to Mitchell's Plain. The sheer scale of the current vacancies tells its own story.”