It is surprising to note that,in this country,we are beginning to normalize or get used to various acts of injustice against workers including desperate graduates searching for jobs.
But it started with the employment of teachers and nurses as casual Government employees,these professionals had to migrate to the United Kingdom(UK) and Taiwan among other countries,in search for well-paying jobs.
Now,we are seeing the employment of qualified lawyers as volunteers for the positions of Clerks,this is very unfortunate and I’ve never thought this will happen in our country where the quality of life for qualified and educated individuals will be intentionally degenerated by the State in such a cruel and oppressive manner.
In fact I’m literally struggling to imagine how can a Clerk of Court who is expected to report to work timely,look decent in professional clothes not to mention other basic necessities of life back home and at personal level be manipulated,exploited and forced to work for free?.
In context,these professionals have already demonstrated a desire to work by rendering their services to the Government for free.
Now,the onus is upon the Government to do the right thing and employ them,of course, with a token of appreciation in a form of a back-pay.
This will enable the Clerks to cover some of their costs accumulated all these years while they render their services to the State for free.
The nature of their job requires one to look decent and represent the integrity of the Judiciary but,Government is seemingly determined to reduce the quality of the justice system.
Well,it seems in this country,there are serious problems that we are not aware-of but,the ‘employment’ of these Clerks is an issue that should be addressed urgently because the mere fact that,the Clerks are working as volunteers is an indication that the posts are available.
Government must employ these qualified professionals,some who have been working for free for the past four(4) years,as a matter of urgency.
The Judiciary is a very important arm of the State but we are seeing Government castrating it by failing to employ professionals.
It was wrong in the first place to force these qualified professionals to be volunteers after spending years at the University securing qualifications with the hope that one day,they will have a better life.
As a writer, I am using the word ‘force’ to contextualize the circumstances that resulted to these professionals rendering their legal services for free to a State institution.
We have never seen Clerks working as volunteers for a Government that should be leading in creating jobs and paying decent salaries but because of desperation,professionals are now reduced into volunteers,where are we taking this country to?.
The Clerks who have been working for free must also be compensated for working for Government without pay,how can a qualified professional work for the State for free?.
Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala must immediately write to the Ministry of Public Services,the Civil Service Commission(CSC) and facilitate the employment of the Clerks and we will be monitoring if this,eventually becomes a reality.
Indeed,I will be failing in my duties as the editor of this widely read and internationally recognized publication,if I can allow such act of injustice against the Clerks to fade away from the public discourse without any solution.

Public Service Minister Mabulala Maseko.