Justice Department cautions magistrates against striking

JOHANNESBURG - The Justice Department has cautioned Magistrates against striking, saying the Labour Relations Act does not apply to them.

Magistrates affiliated with the Judicial Officers Association are considering to strike over salaries.

The least paid magistrate in South Africa makes just over a R1 million per annum.

In a statement, the Justice Department says any proposed strike by judicial officers would be improper and unbecoming.

It says judicial officers are not employees or public servants, adding that the Labour Relations Act which allows workers to go on strike does not apply to them.

The Justice Department says magistrates’ salaries and commissions of service are determined only by by the president.

Furthermore, the department says, Justice Minister Ronald Lamola has raised concerns about magistrates’ salaries with Parliament’s portfolio committee on justice.