JUDGE SECRETARY

🏢 Office of the Chief Justice

CIRCULAR 9 OF 2026

🔢 Post Number 09/127

📑 Reference 2025/425/OCJ

💰 Salary R 325,101 p/a

⏳ Closing Date 27 March 2026

🗺️ Province Eastern Cape

📍 Centre Eastern Cape Division of The High Court: Mthatha

✅ Requirements

• Applicants should be in possession of an LLB Degree or a minimum of 20 modules completed towards an LLB, BA Law or BCom Law Degree
• Results must accompany the application
• A minimum of one (1) year secretarial experience or as an Office Assistant
• A valid driver's licence will serve as an added advantage
• All shortlisted candidates shall undertake a pre -entry practical exercise as part of the assessment method to determine the candidate's suitability based on the post's technical and generic requirements
• Knowledge and skills: Proficiency in English
• Good communication skills (verbal and written)
• Administration and organisational skills
• Exceptional interpersonal skills
• Ability to meet strict deadlines and to work under pressure
• Attention t o detail
• Customer care service skills and excellent typing skills
• Confidentiality and time management
• Computer literacy (MS Word) and research capabilities

📝 Duties

• To ensure attendance and screening of all incoming and outgoing calls
• To ensure that appointments and meetings of the Judge are diarized
• To ensure that the judgments are typed and correspondences are filed accordingly in the right sections
• To ensure th at signed Judgments and orders handed down in court or virtually are sent to the typist and the library (Judgment only)
• To ensure that all visitors are received, screened and their queries are attended to
• To ensure that all incoming and outgoing documents are recorded and filed
• To ensure that stationery for the Judge is ordered and collected
• To ensure that the court files are ready and Judge has all documents in the file on time as per duty roster
• To ensure that all files received from various section(s) are verified by the Registrar of that section
• To ensure that the register of reviews is up to date and signed on receipt and return of reviews to the review Clerk
• To ensure that he register/template of the reserved judgment is updated and noti fying the Statistics officer as well as the office of the Judge President when judgment has been handed down
• To ensure that the transcribed judgments from transcribers reach the Judges for approval and signature
• To ensure that the Heads of Arguments from various stakeholders are received filed and verified
• Informing parties involved via e-mail and or telephonically of time and date when reserved judgments will be handed down, further notifying them on how the judgement will be handed down
• To ensure that the bench book of the Judge is prepared and files are in court before the court starts or before Judge enters the court
• To ensure that all cases are called and recorded as per court roll
• Calling the case number and the parties' names on record before Ju dge can allow parties to start with their matters
• To ensure that the correct Oath ID or declaration is administered in court, when required
• To ensure that the exhibits are handled, controlled and noted professionally and captured accordingly
• To ensure t hat the correct order is endorsed on the file and or on Case lines after it was granted by Judge in court
• To ensure that all the travel, accommodation arrangements are in order on time, attend to sign the documents being signed prior approval
• To ensure t hat the Judge's logbook is submitted on or before 5th of every month to the Transport Officer
• To ensure that the car is booked for either maintenance and service, receive the preauthorization for the Judge's vehicle
• To remind the Judge of the invoices so that the submission of the S&T claims can be processed
• To ensure the submissions of Cell phone and 3G data claims for process purposes
• To ensure that court roll(s) is submitted to the Statistical

📞 Enquiries

Technical Related Enquiries: Mr M Mhlontlo Tel No: (047) 504 5500; HR Related Enquiries: Mr S Mponzo Tel No: (043) 726 5217

📌 Important Note:

All applications must be submitted on a New Z83 form, which can be downloaded on internet at www.judiciary.org.za / www.dpsa.gov.za/dpsa2g/vacancies.asp or obtainable from any Public Service Department and should be accompanied by a recent comprehensive C V only; contactable referees (telephone numbers and email addresses must be indicated). Please send your documents in a PDF and put them in one folder. Only shortlisted candidates will be required to submit certified copies of qualifications and othe r related documents on or before the day of the interview following communication from Human Resources. All shortlisted candidates, including SMS, shall undertake two pre -entry assessments. One must be a practical exercise, and the other must be an Integri ty (Ethical Conduct) Assessment. Selection panels shall score both technical exercises as an additional criterion in the interview process. All shortlisted candidates for SMS posts will be subjected to a technical competency exercise that intends to test relevant technical elements of the job, the logistics of which will be communicated by the Department. Following the interview and technical exercise, the selection panel will recommend candidates to attend generic managerial competencies using the mandated DPSA SMS competency assessment tools. Applicants could be required to provide consent for access to their social media accounts. Prior to appointment for SMS, a candidate would be required to complete the Nyukela Programme: Pre-entry Certificate to Senior Management Services as endorsed by DPSA which is an online course, endorsed by the National School of Government (NSG). The course is available at the NSG under the name Certificate for entry into the SMS and the full details can be sourced by the followi ng link: https://www.thensg.gov.za/training -course/sms -pre-entry -programme/. Each application form must be fully completed, duly signed and initialed on both pages by the applicant. The application must indicate the correct job title, the office where the position is advertised and the reference number as stated in the advert. Failure by the applicant to complete, sign and initial the application form will lead to disqualification of the application during the selection process. Applications on the old Z83 will unfortunately not be considered. Should you be in possession of a foreign qualification, it must be accompanied by an evaluation 7considered. Suitable candidates will be subjected to a personnel suitability check (criminal record, financial checks, qu alification verification, citizenship checks, reference checks and employment verification). Correspondence will be limited to short -listed candidates only. If you have not been contacted within three (3) months after the closing date of this advertisement, please accept that your application was unsuccessful. The Department reserves the right not to make any appointment(s) to the advertised post(s). Applicants who do not comply with the above -mentioned requirements, as well as applications received late, will not be considered. Failure to submit all the requested documents will result in the application not being considered during the selection process. All successful candidates will be expected to enter into an employment contract and a performance agreement within 3 months of appo intment, as well as be required to undergo a security clearance three (3) months after appointment. The Office the Chief Justice complies with the provisions of the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA); Act No. 4 of 2013. We will use your persona l information provided to us for the purpose of recruitment only and more specifically for the purpose of the position/vacancy you have applied for. In the event that your application was unsuccessful, the Office of the Chief Justice will retain your perso nal information for internal audit purposes as required by policies. All the information requested now or during the process is required for recruitment purposes. Failure to provide requested information will render your application null and void. The Offi ce of the Chief Justice will safeguard the security and confidentiality of all information you shared during the recruitment process.