Magistrates countrywide have resolved to resume their normal duties with immediate effect. This decision comes after the magistrates embarked on a go-slow campaign that lasted close to a month where they were complaining about meagre salaries, lack of resources, benefits and security, among others.
news
May 15, 2019
2 min read
Aggrieved magistrates resume work
Chief Magistrate Matankiso Nthunya
Addressing the media on Tuesday this week, Chief Magistrate Central region 'Matankiso Nthunya announced that magistrates across the country had resolved to go back to their normal duties starting from Tuesday. Magistrate Nthunya explained that although they decided to go back to work, none of their complaints have been addressed to date except for a promise that their issues are still being addressed by relevant authorities. She indicated that concerning their salaries, they have been informed by the judicial authority that their concerns will be addressed by the Public Service Commission (PSC) together with other public servants salaries under a project called Public Sector Modernisation Project.
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She also explained that they decided to go back to work despite challenges they face after hearing that they are being blamed for the
backlog of cases in the courts by the public and further that they also realised how things were getting out of hand among communities while they are still on their go-slow. Magistrate Nthunya also revealed that although they are set to continue with their work, they are still faced with a challenge of limited resources like stationery which hinders them from doing their work and commented that they will only continue to work smoothly if such resources are available.
Giving an example of limited resources, Magistrate Nthunya said the court is sometimes forced to allow litigants to go and type written court orders outside court premises due to lack of printers or sometimes printing papers. The Judicial Officers Association of Lesotho (JOALE) last announced that magistrates were embarking on a go-slow campaign because their concerns that have been reported to the government for years have still not been addressed.
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