By Jade Witten
State prosecutors demonstrated that they could toyi-toyi with the best of protesters during a peaceful picket outside the Cape Town regional and magistrates' courts.
They are protesting against the government's inefficient handling of the occupational specific dispensation (OSD) salary issue.
What started on Thursday with just a handful of prosecutors picketing outside the courts - some in suits or wearing high-heeled shoes - swelled steadily.
They brandished placards bearing slogans like "Living costs are sky-high. We want our money now" and "Without prosecutors, courts cannot function or control crime".
One of them, Cape Town Regional Court prosecutor Johan Swart, said they had embarked on the picket to persuade the government to sign off the OSD.
The OSD encompasses a new pay structure for the state lawyers, based on their experience and the position they occupy.
Doctors and teachers have embarked on similar strike.
"This has been going on for some time now; promises made to us that they would finalise and sign the (OSD) document," said Swart.
Cape Town District Court prosecutor Tashriq Ahmed said they wanted what rightfully belonged to them.
"We are waiting for our cost-of-living increases that should have been paid out already," he said.
Tembeka Mbadu, who also works in the regional court, said prosecutors worked "very hard", at times handling up to three trials a day, as well as postponements and new cases.
"We need more people, more courts and incentives to encourage us. We are working hard, so hard we compromise our working hours," she said.
The protest action was set to continue today in Cape Town and Khayelitsha and Mitchell's Plain next week.
Prosecutors have vowed to mobilise their "learned friends" around the country as well.
Mthunzi Mhaga, acting national spokesman for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), said it was "unfortunate" that the prosecutors had resorted to the protest action as they had been in talks with them about the OSD.
"We are working on it and will be engaging with them. We hope they will exercise patience as we will be dealing with it as expeditiously as possible," he said.