Allexer Namundjembo
South African Lower Court Judges Express Solidarity with Namibian Magistrates Amid Planned Strike
Allexer Namundjembo
South Africa’s lower court judges have voiced support for Namibian magistrates who are on strike. They say both groups face the same challenges regarding low pay and poor working conditions.
This comes as Namibian magistrates begin a partial strike on Wednesday.
South Africa’s senior magistrate and president of the Judicial Officers Association of South Africa (JOASA), Neelan Karikan, said South Africa’s lower court judges are also protesting for fair remuneration, better working conditions, and equal benefits.
“We have noted that in other jurisdictions, they are also experiencing similar difficulties, like in neighbouring Namibia. We stand in solidarity with them,” Karikan said in a statement this week.
He said the protests aim to highlight a growing constitutional crisis within South Africa’s judiciary.
“The lower court judges of South Africa have recently embarked on protests throughout the country to highlight the growing constitutional crisis pertaining to our working conditions, remuneration, benefits, and safety,” he said.
Karikan explained that lower court judges handle nearly 95% of all judicial work, including crimes such as rape, murder, and armed robbery, yet remain excluded from benefits given to higher court judges.
“Our Constitution provides for a single independent judiciary in name only, and not in reality. The legislative and executive branches have failed to establish such a judiciary, and as a result, lower court judges continue to experience systemic economic discrimination,” he said.
He said judges have not had a major salary review in 17 years and received no cost of living adjustment for the 2025 fiscal year.
“The financial stranglehold on lower court judges is causing an immense loss of talent. The future of a strong, independent judiciary for South Africa now hangs in the balance,” Karikan warned.
JOASA has already held protests at the Constitutional Court and Parliament, where it handed over a memorandum of demands to government officials.
The demonstration will continue at the Union Buildings in Pretoria and later at the G20 Summit in Johannesburg.
In Namibia, magistrates represented by Metcalfe Beukes Attorneys had given the Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations a final ultimatum to implement approved housing and vehicle allowances.
They began a partial strike this week, warning that if their demands are not met, court proceedings across the country will be disrupted.
Lawyer Florian Beukes of Metcalfe Beukes Attorneys confirmed to the Windhoek Observer that a go-slow had started on Tuesday, saying the minister of justice was unavailable as he was out of the country on official duty.
Beukes said the minister would only meet them once he returned.
On Tuesday, the Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement expressed its support for the magistrates and urged the government to act quickly.
