Media Statement

Minister Lamola appoints 43 new Regional Court Magistrates

16 March 2023

The Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Mr Ronald Lamola, has appointed 43 Regional Magistrates for various regional divisions across the country. Their appointment is with effect from 1 May 2023.

The appointment process is prescribed in legislation and is a lengthy process, comprising the following steps -
•       Vacancies are identified and confirmed against the judicial establishment and funded posts;
•       Advertisements follow thereafter;
•       Applications are processed;
•       Shortlisting is done;
•       Interviews are held;
•       Recommendations are made by the Magistrates Commission after the conclusion of the interviews, and
•       The recommendations are submitted to the Minister of Justice for his consideration and appointment.

A fully transformed judiciary is a constitutional imperative. The new appointments will further enhance diversity in our courts in terms of both race and gender, with 57% of the appointments being women and 79% being Black. (Of the new appointments, 28% are Black males, 14% are White males, 50% are Black females and 7% White females.)

“The appointments are an important step in capacitating our judicial officers and our courts so as to enable them to deliver justice to all.  Our Magistrates Courts are where most people encounter the justice system for the first time. If the Magistrates Courts work well, it builds trust and confidence in the justice system,” Minister Lamola said. 

In addition to the 43 new Regional Magistrates, the Minister also appointed 1 Senior Magistrate as a Judicial Quality Assurance Officer in the Ethics Division of the Magistrates’ Commission and 2 Senior Magistrates to serve as judicial educators at the South African Judicial Education Institute (SAJEI).

Issued by the Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services

Enquiries:
Chrispin Phiri
Spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services
Cell: +(27) 081 781 2261