House Chair, the ACDP supports the salary increases for the judiciary.
In order for the judiciary to be effective and retain its independence, it is crucial that judges and magistrates are properly remunerated. This is also necessary to draw the best legal brains to apply for judicial positions.
The Justice Portfolio Committee is fully aware of the unhappiness of magistrates who made written submissions and even threatened with industrial action due to what they perceive to be low salary packages. These increases will go some way to address their concerns but a full review of their salary packages is long overdue.
That having been said, the ACDP is extremely concerned about the high number of misconduct hearings against judges and magistrates and the lengthy time it takes to complete these hearings.
Chief Justice, Mandisa Maya, in presenting the Annual Judiciary Report last year, raised an alarm over the sharp rise in misconduct complaints against judges, noting that there were 132 complaints filed in 2024/25 alone, bringing the three-year total to a staggering 350.
This is absolutely disgraceful and she correctly warned that waning public confidence in the judiciary is directly linked to these complaints which primarily concern judgment delays, general misconduct and incompetence.
The ACDP agrees—the judiciary must be above reproach and disciplinary cases must be speedily finalised to ensure legitimacy in the eyes of the public, particularly when there are allegations of serious corruption.
I thank you.
