Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za
3-minute read | 27 November 2025

📸 A gavel and scales of justice reflect the mounting concerns over judicial accountability in South Africa, as rising complaints intensify calls to restore public trust in the courts.

Growing concern is mounting over the state of South Africa’s judiciary after a sharp rise in complaints lodged against judges over the past three years. This comes as Chief Justice Mandisa Maya confirmed that “132 complaints were received in 2024–2025 alone,” signalling a troubling upward trend in public dissatisfaction.

Speaking at the release of the judiciary’s 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 annual reports, Maya outlined key achievements, persistent challenges, and urgent gaps requiring attention. Civil society watchdog Judges Matter says these numbers point to systemic strain rather than isolated misconduct.

Research and Advocacy Officer at Judges Matter, Mbekezeli Benjamin warns that while the sheer number of complaints is worrying, context matters. “When you look at the numbers alone, it is a cause for concern. But we have to drill down,” he explained in an interview with Radio Islam International. Most complaints, he noted, stem from litigants unhappy with unfavourable outcomes rather than ethical breaches. “A lot of the complaints relate to Article 5 of the Code of Conduct, the right to a fair trial,” he said, adding that delays in delivering judgments also form a significant portion of grievances.

However, the more pressing issue, Benjamin argues, is the backlog in resolving these complaints. “The system to deal with complaints against judges is too slow, inefficient, and leaves the impression that the bad apples are not being dealt with,” he said. This, he cautioned, creates the perception of widespread misconduct even when that may not be the case.

While the judiciary has increased its output with over “148,700 cases finalised in 2024” limited resources continue to hinder efficiency. Judges have repeatedly stressed the need for adequate staffing and administrative support. “We haven’t had an increase in the number of judges for 16 years,” Benjamin pointed out, arguing that resourcing must be directly tied to greater accountability.

Concerns around competence also surfaced. Although some complaints allege incompetence, Benjamin clarified that “there has never been an investigation into competence for a judge.” Many such complaints originate from litigants unable to afford appeals, opting instead to challenge the judge through the complaints process.

These unresolved complaints and long waits for judgments are steadily eroding public trust. “It does break my heart that people lose faith when they’ve waited for years,” Benjamin said. Restoring confidence, he insists, requires immediate reforms including expanding the Judicial Conduct Committee and improving court resourcing to ensure justice is delivered swiftly and fairly.

As South Africa’s Constitution promises accessible and timely justice, the pressure mounts on the judiciary to reinforce the credibility on which the entire system stands.

Listen to the full interview on The Daily Round-Up with Annisa Essack and Mbekezeli Benjamin.