Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and hon members of this august House, the Select Committee on Security and Justice was required to consider and report on the salary increases of magistrates and judges with effect from 1 April 2019.
In respect of magistrates, the committee therefore considered the draft notice tabled in terms of section 12(3) of the Magistrates Act, 1993, determining the rate at which salaries are payable to magistrates annually.
The committee therefore considered the President's letter in which the President had considered the recommendations made by the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers in respect of the salary increases for magistrates at 4% with effect from 1 April 2019.
The committee considered that the President had taken the current economic challenges faced by our country into account in his determination of the magistrates' salary increase. The President had therefore recommended the following increases: firstly, in terms of the special grade, chief magistrates, regional court president, the regional magistrate, chief magistrates and senior magistrates at 2,8%; secondly, magistrates at 4,5%.
The committee also received and considered two submissions made by a voluntary association, the Association of Regional Magistrates of South Africa, ARMSA, and an individual, a chief magistrate who expressed their unhappiness with the increases recommended by the President.
The committee agreed that due to the financial constraints faced by our country, the President's determination is reasonable
The select committee thus having considered the draft notice determining the rate with effect from 1 April 2019, at which salaries, allowances and benefits are payable to magistrates annually for approval by Parliament in terms of section 12 (3) of the Magistrates Act 1993 recommends that the council approve the set draft notice and schedule .
In respect of judges, the committee was further required to consider the draft notice submitted in terms of section 2 (3) (b) of the Judges Remuneration and Conditions of the Employment Act 2001, determining the rate at which salaries are payable to constitutional courts judges and judges annually.
The committee therefore considered the President's letter in which the President had considered the recommendation made by the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office bearers in respect of the salary increase for judges at 3% with effect from 1 April 2019.
However, the committee agreed with the President's recommendation that due to the serious economic challenges faced by our country, the President does not intend to increase the salaries of constitutional court judges and judges of other courts.
The Select Committee on Security and Justice, having considered the draft notice determining the rate, with effect from 1 April 2019, at which salaries, allowances and benefits are payable to constitutional court judges and judges annually for approval by Parliament in terms of section 2 (4) of the Judges Remuneration and
Conditions of Employment Act of 2001 recommends that the council approves the set draft notice and schedule. I thank you.
Question put: That the Reports be adopted.