PRETORIA, Gauteng — A recent Legal Aid workers protest outside the Department of Justice turned tense after union members were denied a meeting with Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi to deliver a memorandum detailing long-standing workplace grievances.
The frustration boiled over when the workers were informed that the minister could not meet with them to receive their demands, despite the union allegedly notifying the office months in advance. The ongoing strike is being driven by unresolved workplace issues that union leaders say have been ignored since 2019, including frozen vacancies, excessive workloads, salary disparities, and disputes over the retirement age of 60.
South African Lawyers and Allied Workers Union (SALAWU) President Andile Mavatha expressed deep frustration over the minister’s absence and the dismissal of their historical demands.
“Go and check in your archives what we said in 2019,” Mavatha stated, addressing the department’s officials. “The issue of capacity. Go and check our demands in 2019. The issue of salary OSD, go and check what we said in 2019.” *(Note: “salary OSD” reflects the Occupational Specific Dispensation demands referenced in the transcript).*
The marchers had expected Mmamoloko Kubayi or her deputy to be present to receive the memorandum. The minister’s absence left workers feeling dismissed. “You did not tell us as to where the minister is,” Mavatha said. “We are so disrespected by this office.”
Beyond the labor dispute, the strike is raising severe concerns regarding the justice system. Magistrates and high court schedules have been heavily impacted. Accused individuals who rely on legal aid are reportedly appearing in court without free legal representation, leading to delayed justice and postponed cases.
SALAWU spokesperson Michael Motaung highlighted that the lack of capacity and frozen vacancies are directly hindering the constitutional right to access justice. Motaung explained that current staffing levels make it impossible to fulfill their mandates.
“We are unable to cover each and every court to represent the indigent as expected in terms of the constitution as well as the Legal Aid Act,” Motaung said. “We are here to say that the minister must release the funds.”
Ultimately, the department’s Deputy Director General for Court Services, Charles Mohalaba, stepped in to receive the memorandum. Mohalaba expressed sympathy for the workers’ plight and assured the protesters that the issues would be escalated. He undertook to ensure the memorandum reached the minister’s desk, confirming that both the minister and deputy minister would be briefed on the matter that same afternoon.
“Certainly, we can assure you that this very afternoon the minister and the deputy minister will be advised of this,” Mohalaba told the crowd. “In fact, these are not new issues; these are old issues which require the necessary body with the necessary authority to take action.”
