The Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services on Wednesday recommended a 3.8% salary increase for certain public office bearers with effect from April 1 and its report will be sent to the National Assembly for approval.

The committee has adopted its report on the salary determinations for the Public Protector, Deputy Public Protector and Commissioners on the South African Human Rights Commission.

“Legislation requires the President to submit the Notice to the National Assembly (for approval, whether whole or in part, or disapproval), before publication. The Independent Commission recommended a 3.8% salary increment for all categories of public office bearers for the financial year 2022/23, including office-bearers of the independent constitutional institutions,” said Committee chairperson Bulelani Magwanishe.

CORRECTIONAL SERVICES BILL

The committee further adopted the Correctional Services Amendment Bill, to enhance the independence of the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS).

The Bill was referred to the committee after the Constitutional Court Sonke-judgement sought to confirm the High Court’s declaration that sections of the Act were inconsistent with the Constitution. 

Magwanishe said the court held that the impugned provisions are constitutionally invalid to the extent that they fail to provide an adequate level of independence to the JICS.

The committee received written submissions from the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference, African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum, Detention Justice Forum, and South African Prisoners Organisation for Human Rights on the matter, alongside public hearings and oral inputs.

Magwanishe noted that while the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services supports the Correctional Services Amendment Bill as introduced, it urged the Justice and Correctional Ministry to introduce the related Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services Bill which deals with the functioning of the JICS.