Unionised staff say candidate lawyers are handling more than eight court matters a day while civil practitioners juggle over 200 files - and the board is being told to go.
Legal Aid South Africa unionised staff have called on its board to resign, warning that chronic understaffing, mounting workloads and the loss of experienced lawyers are placing access to justice at risk, arguing that the country's most vulnerable citizens are increasingly bearing the consequences.
According to an internal memorandum seen by IOL, members of the South African Legal Workers Union (SALAWU) say the organisation is struggling to retain experienced legal practitioners, leaving those who remain to shoulder growing caseloads that are affecting the quality and efficiency of legal representation.
The union embarked on strike action yesterday, which has been scheduled to continue today before ending.
However, documents in IOL's possession show the organisation has activated a wide-ranging contingency plan that includes additional attendance monitoring, the suspension of flexible work arrangements and the revocation of some previously approved leave, as it expects the strike "will proceed indefinitely".
