Thoboloko Ntšonyane

BEREA – Chief Justice (CJ) Sakoane Sakoane has charged the judicial officers to appreciate their line of demarcation in the discharge of their duties.

This he said today during the colloquium of the Judges and the Magistrates.

CJ urged them to assert their authority and always respect the lines of hierarchical reporting.

The head of the Judiciary told the participants to take action accordingly when the need arises for those reporting directly to supervision but warned that they should not overreach themselves to avoid repercussions that may follow on account of their conduct.

One of the participants, Qacha’s Nek’s Senior Resident Magistrate Tšeliso Bale underscored the importance of administration saying as LLB holders, they do not have an administration background, a move that proves cumbersome to run the Magistrates. 

Bale said they are “clueless” on issues of administration intimating that they sometimes risk being found wanting with laws and regulations.

He said at one point he marveled at a Grade A servant, signing a requisition form. In some instances, he alluded that the messenger and the clerk signing the order, a move beyond their work scope.

Qacha’s Nek’s Senior Resident Magistrate stressed that the judicial officers ought to be capacitated to appreciate their job description.

He commended the colloquium as a step in the right direction.

A meeting of this nature was last held 10 years back.

The Judiciary is independent of other organs of the state, being the Executive and the Legislature.

“The interface aims to strengthen the justice delivery mechanism in compliance with international standards, while simultaneously taking advantage of opportunities presented by the current ongoing national reforms and preserving the judicial core values, taking into consideration the various trends and issues affecting the Judiciary’s ability to perform its mission effectively.

“Successful interface and deliberations at the colloquium shall translate to enhancing an independent Judiciary in providing fair and impartial justice within the jurisdiction conferred by the Constitution and Parliament of Lesotho,” said Judiciary in a statement.  

These engagements are supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Union (EU).

CJ warns judicial officers against overreaching

By Thoboloko Ntšonyane

BEREA – Chief Justice (CJ) Sakoane Sakoane has charged the judicial officers to appreciate their line of demarcation in the discharge of their duties.

This he said today during the colloquium of the Judges and the Magistrates.

CJ urged them to assert their authority and always respect the lines of hierarchical reporting.

The head of the Judiciary told the participants to take action accordingly when the need arises for those reporting directly to supervision but warned that they should not overreach themselves to avoid repercussions that may follow on account of their conduct.

One of the participants, Qacha’s Nek’s Senior Resident Magistrate Tšeliso Bale underscored the importance of administration saying as LLB holders, they do not have an administration background, a move that proves cumbersome to run the Magistrates. 

Bale said they are “clueless” on issues of administration intimating that they sometimes risk being found wanting with laws and regulations.

He said at one point he marveled at a Grade A servant, signing a requisition form. In some instances, he alluded that the messenger and the clerk signing the order, a move beyond their work scope.

Qacha’s Nek’s Senior Resident Magistrate stressed that the judicial officers ought to be capacitated to appreciate their job description.

He commended the colloquium as a step in the right direction.

A meeting of this nature was last held 10 years back.

The Judiciary is independent of other organs of the state, being the Executive and the Legislature.

“The interface aims to strengthen the justice delivery mechanism in compliance with international standards, while simultaneously taking advantage of opportunities presented by the current ongoing national reforms and preserving the judicial core values, taking into consideration the various trends and issues affecting the Judiciary’s ability to perform its mission effectively.

“Successful interface and deliberations at the colloquium shall translate to enhancing an independent Judiciary in providing fair and impartial justice within the jurisdiction conferred by the Constitution and Parliament of Lesotho,” said Judiciary in a statement.  

These engagements are supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Union (EU).