Interpreters at the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court have started the year with new formal robes, marking a significant step towards the professionalisation and recognition of the crucial role interpreters play in South Africa’s justice system. The Court Interpreters’ Robing Programme, the first of its kind in the world, was launched in November last year by Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi. KwaZulu-Natal is among the first provinces in which the programme is being piloted.
Kubayi said court interpreters were not merely language facilitators but “guardians of constitutional rights”, ensuring that every person, regardless of language or background, has meaningful access to justice. “Universal access to justice can only be achieved when every citizen can participate in court proceedings in the language of their choice,” she said, adding that the robing programme forms part of broader efforts to professionalise the interpreting sector, supported by training through Justice College. We will ensure that interpreters receive the best possible training to strengthen our judiciary and, by extension, our democracy.
Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court Chief Magistrate Mpho Monyemore said the occasion marked the official launch of the robing of court interpreters at the court. While the provincial launch for KwaZulu-Natal took place in December last year, she said the event was significant as it represented the first local rollout, which will now be extended to other provinces. Monyemore said interpreters play a critical role in the justice system and are the backbone of the courts.
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“Without them, judges, magistrates and other judicial officers would not be in a position to make sound and credible rulings, as many presiding officers are not proficient in the languages spoken by people appearing before the courts,” she said. She added that interpreters are specifically trained in these languages, and the courts rely on them to accurately convey evidence.
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