By Kwanele Dhladhla
Magistrates in the country remain prone to corruption due to being lowly paid, factor which does not only undermine the revered law profession, but goes on to embarrasses the country before the international community which holds high judiciary in high esteem for its crucial role in the preservation of justice.
This was unanimous submission Members of Parliament (MP’s), who passed a motion for the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs Prince Simelane to work in tandem with the Minister for Public Service Mabulala Maseko, to address the issue of low remuneration and generally poor terms of service and conditions of service for the country’s magistrates.
The minister was directed table an update report to the House of Assembly on progress achieved in this regard within 14 days.
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“Give this issue the seriousness it deserves because the working conditions of magistrates and salaries are not at par with the great service they offer to the nation,” stressed Dlamini after the motion was passed by the August House.
Minister of Tinkhundla and Administration Sikhumbuzo Dlamini said it was high time salaries and general welfare of magistrates ought to be attended to since it had also been one of the directives issued by the 10th Parliament whose Prime Minister was the late Barnabas Dlamini.
The minister confided that as a former police officer, who worked closely with magistrates, he was at pains that their living conditions were deplorable and that their pay grade was very low yet they render a crucial service to the nation.
“We need to address the issue of magistrates because it also borders on overall service provision by the Tinkhundla System of Governance as well,” he emphasised.
The MP’s took turns to explain that poor working conditions of magistrates which include lack of medical aid, transport allowance, communication allowance and poor housing conditions.
Mayiwane MP Sicelo Dlamini, who seconded the motion by Mbabane East MP, said it was disheartening the magistrates who play an important role in curbing the scourge of Gender Based Violence (GBV) through imposing harsh sentences were not being afforded adequate security to protect them from perpetrators whom they find guilty.
“I would like to urge the minister to do justice with the issue of magistrates’ salaries. The service rendered by magistrates is not proportionate to the remuneration which is grossly unfair,” he emphasised.
The Mayiwane MP went on to state that due to the lack of medical aid, magistrates were found queuing at public hospitals with little or no assistance.
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Kubuta MP Mzwandile Mamba cited section 139 of the Constitution which defines magistrates to be part of the judiciary.
Therefore, he said it boggles his mind as to why when the remuneration of judges gets reviewed, magistrates got left out which was quite strange.
He went on to state that due to the low salaries, magistrates were prone or would be gullible to accepting bribes to sustain their livelihoods.
However, he made a disclaimer that his statement should not be misunderstood to mean magistrates accept bribes but rather a warning that there was a strong likelihood for them to eventually accept bribes due to the low salaries.
“Integrity of the justice system is put at stake due to the low salaries of magistrates. Therefore, the issue deserves immediate attention,” Mamba stressed.
