Regional Magistrates stick to legal action over pay and working conditions

In light of the new proposed salary hikes, the Association of Regional Magistrates in South Africa  (ARMSA) says it’s still forging ahead with its litigation against the government for better working conditions. 

The association, which represents presiding officers in the country’s courts, has a pending civil case against the government over low salary packages and high case loads caused by unfilled vacancies.

The Independent Remuneration Commission recently recommended to President Cyril Ramaphosa a salary hike of 4.1% for all public office bearers, including judicial officers.

In its litigation, ARMSA has accused the government of implementing below-inflation salary hikes for about two decades.

This year, magistrates took the unprecedented step of taking their frustrations out on the streets in coordinated pickets across the country. 

ARMSA spokesperson Hein Louw says the proposed four-point-one percent salary hike is not enough for the association to drop its litigation against the government. 

 “ARMSA NEC (National Executive Committee) will deliberate here upon early in the new year, and it is most likely we will pursue litigation in respect not only to the major review but also to the process that places us in the unenviable situation.”

Louw says the association has recommended a 5.5% increase for magistrates.