NHLANGANO – The newly-appointed Judicial Service Commission (JSC), under the leadership of its Chairman, Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala, commenced its first official tour yesterday.
Their inaugural visit took them to the Shiselweni Magistrates Court to gather crucial oral submissions from magistrates, assistant masters and commissioners of the small claims court.
This marks the commission’s first journey since its members were officially sworn in on Monday.
The JSC’s demanding itinerary began in Nhlangano and will continue to the Mbabane Magistrates Court today, followed by Siteki tomorrow. Further court visits are strategically scheduled for next week to ensure comprehensive coverage.
The new appointees to the JSC, who are now actively engaged in this vital work, include Justice Nxumalo, Mfanzile Elliot Dlamini, Chazile Dlamini and Charity Simelane. According to the chief justice (CJ), the primary purpose of these extensive visits is to collect oral submissions specifically regarding the terms and conditions of service from magistrates, assistant masters and commissioners of small claims courts.
He also highlighted a critical and pressing issue: A severe shortage of permanent posts across the courts and the Master’s Office, encompassing judges, magistrates and various other essential legal roles.
He stressed that the JSC is now actively pushing for the hiring of permanent staff across all positions, rather than relying on temporary acting roles.
He confirmed that an application has already been sent to the Ministry of Public Service to obtain a comprehensive list of needed categories for the JSC, with a strong expectation of their full cooperation in this vital matter.
Furthermore, the CJ expressed profound gratitude to His Majesty King Mswati III for approving the Supreme Court’s relocation from the High Court to the Central Bank building, a significant move that has already commenced.
Submissions
Speaking yesterday, the CJ explained the purpose of their visit: “I am with the JSC; we are here to take oral submissions of magistrates and assistant masters and commissioners of small claims court.”
He further elaborated that these crucial submissions pertain directly to the terms and conditions of their service. “We first came to Nhlangano, we will proceed to other regions. Tomorrow we will be taking oral submissions of magistrates at Mbabane Magistrates Court.”
The CJ highlighted the overall aim: “The aim is to hear magistrates of their concerns, as well as assistant masters, masters, deputy master and commissioners to be able to compile a report and recommendations of them as JSC to find how the terms and conditions of the judicial officers stand.”
He expressed optimism that this important work would be completed swiftly, noting that magistrates, deputy registrars of all other courts, assistant registrars, masters and deputy masters are the final groups from whom submissions are being collected.
“We will try to quicken the process and finish early,” he affirmed. Another key area the JSC will diligently address, he added, involves ‘post issues’, indicating a comprehensive approach to judicial staffing.
On Tuesday, this publication reported about the newly-appointed (JSC facing a formidable task, inheriting a litany of challenges that have plagued the nation’s Judiciary for years.
As CJ officiated the swearing-in of the new commissioners on Monday, his address highlighted a stark reality: Many of the critical issues he pinpointed were, remarkably, the same or strikingly similar to those he had identified six years ago, during the official opening of the Legal Year in 2019.
The alarming continuity of these long-standing problems points directly to the urgent and demanding mandate awaiting the new JSC members.
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