Eastern Cape judge Buyiswa Majiki has sought to alleviate concerns of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) regarding the state of the Mthatha high court, following allegations of corruption. Majiki, one of four candidates being interviewed for the deputy judge president post in the Gqeberha high court, detailed improvements made in the court over the past year. The Mthatha high court was a focal point during the interviews after allegations in December 2024 of bribery and missing court files.
Majiki stated that since Chief Justice Mandisa Maya's oversight visits to the court in 2025 and 2026, operations have improved significantly. The court's primary goal of providing access to justice for litigants has been better achieved. She described the issue of court dates being allocated to preferred law firms as "a thing of the past". Majiki emphasized her efforts to monitor the court roll closely, enabling her to identify and address anomalies.
According to Majiki, changes at the registrar's office have contributed to the improvement. The staff responsible for allocating dates have been reassigned to other roles, such as receiving and filing. This change has led to a more diverse representation of law firms in the court rolls. Previously, one firm dominated the court roll, indicating preference by the registrar's office.
Majiki, a 13-year veteran of the judiciary, also addressed the issue of lost files. She reported that the practice of using temporary files in motion court is no longer prevalent. However, she acknowledged that a lack of capacity and resources in the high court has contributed to operational challenges. The issue of inadequate staffing has been addressed, with personnel now serving in roles for which they are suited.
Despite progress, Majiki noted that resources remain a concern for the court. The registrar's office in Mthatha has only two registrars, who must handle all registrar-related work, including taxation. This has impacted the turnaround time for taxations. The JSC interviews will continue, with other candidates vying for the deputy judge president position.
The issue of sexual harassment in the province also surfaced during the interviews. Judge President Selby Mbenenge faced a complaint from a judges' secretary, Andiswa Mengo. Acting Judge President Zamani Nhlangulela noted resistance in the division to discussing sexual harassment. Majiki agreed that there was reluctance to engage in-depth on the topic and suggested incorporating it into social and formal judges' meetings.
The JSC interviews aim to stabilize leadership in the province. Majiki's responses demonstrate efforts to address concerns and improve the court's operations. The outcome of the interviews will be crucial in determining the future leadership of the Gqeberha high court. The commission's assessment of Majiki and other candidates will inform its decision on the deputy judge president position.
Key points
- Judge Buyiswa Majiki addresses allegations of corruption at the Mthatha high court.
- The court has seen improvements in operations and allocation of court dates since Chief Justice Mandisa Maya's oversight visits.
- Resources remain a concern for the court, particularly in the registrar's office.
