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GEORGE NEWS - Magistrates across South Africa have started protesting to call for better working conditions, improved safety and greater recognition in their jobs.
The demonstrations, which began in Durban two weeks ago and have since spread to Cape Town, reached George this week, where a handful of magistrates gathered in solidarity during their lunch hour as not to disrupt court proceedings.
Magistrates argue they undergo the same training and hold the same qualifications as judges, yet are denied equivalent benefits such as lifelong salaries and comprehensive state medical aid.
During the protest in George, Magistrate Michelle Henderson told George Herald that they were demonstrating peacefully to highlight poor working conditions, safety concerns, pay issues and the unfair differences between magistrates and judges.
Their frustration has grown along with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s continued silence on the matter.
A petition submitted to the President in December has yet to be acknowledged and continued protests are considered until a formal response is received.
Henderson said magistrates perform much of the same work as judges and hold the same qualifications, yet they are treated very differently.
“Judges receive a wide range of benefits that are written into law, but magistrates have none of that,” she said.
“On paper, our salaries may look decent, but the reality is that we take home only a fraction of that, while still having to cover all our own costs including security at our homes.”
Henderson said magistrates face daily risks because they deal with dangerous people, yet feel they have little support from government.
“We’ve been neglected by those in power. They have ignored our situation for years. Many of us move between up to five courts a day, handling dozens of cases. We love our work, but we’re tired of waiting for fairness,” she said.
The matter has even been taken to court, but it was struck from the roll because the President’s office filed papers late.
Henderson stressed that magistrates play a crucial role in serving ordinary South Africans.
“Our lives matter, and the work we do matters. We make important decisions that affect people’s everyday lives, yet we receive no fairness when it comes to our pay, safety or working conditions.”
VIDEO: Magistrates from George stand in solidarity with magistrates from across the country as they protest for better working conditions.
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