BOFEPUSU concerned about Judiciary crisis
Correspondent | Friday September 11, 2015 15:37
Judicial function is sacred and the judges are to be seen as noble and revered men and women of high agility.
The management and leadership within judiciary should therefore be in excellence. With the current ongoing within our judiciary we are compelled to safely conclude that there is ‘crisis in our judiciary’.
It is clear that the managerial and leadership capabilities of the Chief Justice (CJ) are being put to test and we are shivering with fright that things are falling apart and disintegrating before him.
This circus playing within our Judiciary depicts a diminishing line between Executive and Judiciary and therefore separation of powers is under siege.
Separation of powers between arms of government is a fundamental feature of every functional democracy.
The continued suspensions of judges with blink of an eye with so much haste and lack of regard for consequences thereof will set an environment of intimidation and unrest within judges.
Given their role in society and upholding justice even on injustices committed by the Executive requires that they be accorded security of their occupation and they be allowed to discharge their duties with freedom and guided by pursuit of justice and professionalism
The issue at hand which is of housing allowance is so minute that it could have been handled internally as it is administrative, unless the CJ is communicating that he is not in control and therefore outsourcing his responsibilities to the police.
We call upon all those involved in this circus to think deeply about the integrity of our judiciary lest people lose respect and confidence on it.
Judiciary is very fundamental in upholding and nurturing democracy, and to perform this function in need to be in tact.
The CJ must put his house in order while the President of the country must be cautious and avoid premature mingling in internal judicial matters and therefore entangling the Executive in another sphere of government.
Ketlhalefile Motshegwa
BOFEPUSU Deputy Secretary General