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207 magistrate positions to be filled

January 17th, 2020
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By Kgomotso Ramotsho

In a media statement released in November 2019, the Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services announced that it will be filling 207 magistrate positions. More than half of the new incumbents are female magistrates, which means that 47,8% of the magistracy are female. The statement read that more than half of South Africa’s population is female, therefore, it is important that the Bench also reflect that.

The Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services said that magistrates’ courts are where most people encounter the justice system for the first time, and for many, the magistrates’ courts embody the justice system as a whole and if the magistrates’ courts work, the public believes the justice system works.

The Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services pointed out that the Magistrates Commission plays an important role in the filling of magistrates’ vacancies. The Magistrates Commission is a statutory body established in terms of the Magistrates Act 90 of 1993 and appointment procedures and processes are set out in the legislation and accompanying Regulations. The appointment process is as follows –

  • vacancies are identified, confirmed against the judicial establishment and funded posts;
  • advertisements follow thereafter;
  • applications are processed;
  • shortlisting is done;
  • interviews are held;
  • recommendations are made by the Magistrates Commission, after the conclusion of the interviews; and
  • the recommendations are summitted to the Minister of Justice for his consideration and appointment.

The statement stated that the Magistrates Commission submitted its recommendations regarding suitable candidates to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola, in September 2019. The statement added that in some instances the Magistrates Commission recommended that the post be re-advertised, while some of the vacancies will be filled by way of the transfers of magistrates who had also applied for the posts. The Magistrates Commission recommended that 210 people be appointed.

The Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services noted that Mr Lamola considered the recommendations of the Magistrates Commission and 207 new magistrate appointments will be made by him, with effect from 1 February.

Kgomotso Ramotsho Cert Journ (Boston) Cert Photography (Vega) is the news reporter at De Rebus.

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