Clerks on go-slow, cases delayed
SITEKI – Cases scheduled to be adjudicated at Siteki Magistrates Court on Monday were delayed because the clerks were on a go-slow. The clerks only started working at 1pm. Their complaint was that they were being overworked, hence they resorted to engaging in the go-on slow.
Their demand is for the registrar of the High Court to hire more clerks.
According to one of the clerks, the court has six clerks, though three of them work on a voluntary basis, without being remunerated.
They are paid a stipend, despite that they have been engaged for almost three years now.
The clerk, who asked that her particulars be concealed in fear of victimisation, shared that on Monday, one of his colleagues called in sick.
The clerk stated that the other colleague also did not show up for duty and he was left with the burden to work alone.
The clerks are in charge of signing court orders and also interpreting during court proceedings. The clerk mentioned that this week, two magistrates were deployed at the court. He highlighted that five magistrates were currently adjudicating on cases at the court, including two principal magistrates.
“This court has been neglected for too long and clerks are being overworked yet they continue to hire magistrates. I believe government, through the office of registrar of the High Court’s recommendations, has to hire the three casual clerks to ease the workload or at least be paid a stipend,” said the clerk.
Disappointed
One of the clerks, who works on a voluntary basis, shared that they were disappointed that they haven’t been hired despite being engaged for over three years now.
“I think we are being abused here as some of us have to take care of basic needs as well as our children. We have families but government has not paid us for doing a job that subjects us to eight hours a day in court and office. We are working like those who are fully-employed but we are not remunerated. Those volunteering have had enough and resorted to staying home as they have to fend for transport money and food on a daily basis,” said the clerk.
The court’s Principal Magistrate, Dumsani Magagula, acknowledged the matter, even though he stated that he was not the rightful person to make a comment about it.
Magagula said the situation the court was faced with was known.
He said he was optimistic that when the court was eventually relocated to the new premises situated at a new business and shopping centre above the Ubombo Mall, the situation would normalise.
The principal magistrate asserted that the new court premises had six courtrooms and offices, hence it would be imperative that government found a remedy to the current situation and hire more court clerks.
“We are looking forward to relocating to the new premises as there are six courtrooms that will demand more clerks to be engaged by government,” he said.
Registrar of the High Court Nosipho Mazibuko had not responded to a questionnaire where she was asked about the position of her office in addressing the matter.