By Palesa Matlala
- SALAWU deputy general secretary Khayalethu Sibeko says frozen vacant posts and impossible workloads are putting poor South Africans’ right to a fair trial at risk.
- Legal Aid workers have given Parliament and Legal Aid South Africa 10 days to respond to demands over staffing, workloads, retirement age and working conditions.
Legal Aid South Africa workers are on strike this week. They say the justice system is quietly failing the people who need it most.
The two-day strike began on Wednesday, 17 June, with marches outside Legal Aid offices across the country. On Thursday, 18 June, union members are marching to the offices of Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi to deliver their demands directly.
The union president said repeated correspondence to the Minister and the Legal Aid board chairperson had gone unanswered. He accused both of having no interest in the welfare of legal aid employees.
SALAWU deputy general secretary Khayalethu Sibeko said lawyers are carrying workloads that cannot be managed. Some civil lawyers are handling more than 200 files at a time. Some candidate legal practitioners are expected to appear in court with as many as 15 files in a single day, covering criminal trials, bail applications and other matters simultaneously.
“How do you expect that person to deliver quality legal representation?” Sibeko said.
Workers say vacant posts created by resignations, retirements and dismissals are not being filled. The work is passed on to whoever remains. Sibeko said the situation got worse after a new Legal Aid board was appointed in March 2024.
The union also says workers are buying their own pens, paper and notebooks to do the job. They then walk into court and face two or three state prosecutors on the other side.
“As a Legal Aid practitioner, it is disheartening when you are carrying huge files and facing two or three prosecutors on the other side,” Sibeko said.
SALAWU wants the retirement age raised. Legal Aid employees must retire at 60, while prosecutors and members of the judiciary can work until between 65 and 70. The dispute has been referred to the CCMA after talks collapsed.
Legal Aid South Africa denied the strike disrupted court operations, saying contingency plans kept services running throughout the action.
SALAWU has given Parliament and Legal Aid South Africa 10 days to respond.
Pictured above: Legal Aid South Africa workers protesting outside the Gqeberha regional court on Wednesday.
Image source: Supplied
