Eastern Cape - Magistrate's courts across the country are facing a total shutdown as magistrates threaten to go on strike if their salaries are not adjusted, the Dispatch Online reported on Monday.
The national executive of the Judicial Officers' Association of SA (Joasa) met in Port Elizabeth over the weekend and confirmed their intention to strike if their pay demands were not met, the report said.
Magistrates rejected the five percent salary recommendation made by the Independent Remuneration Commission and said that the commission had failed to correct flaws in its recommendation.
The strike was expected to start on March 18.
There were serious implications if the strike were to go ahead.
Awaiting trial prisoners needed J7 forms to be signed by magistrates in order to keep them detained.
If not signed, they may have to be sent home.
Justice spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga told the Dispatch Online the department was confident that talks with magistrates would yield results and avert the strike. - Sapa