Court interpreters are demanding payment for services rendered, with some claiming they have not been paid for months—or even years—by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.
Frustrated interpreters met with department officials this week, expressing distress over the financial hardship caused by the delays. “Most of us do not have money even for the survival of our families,” one interpreter said.
The Western Cape Department of Justice acknowledged the backlog, stating it has allocated additional resources to expedite payments. A representative promised an update within two weeks on progress made.
Meanwhile, interpreters say they will reconvene to discuss their next steps. The department also noted it would release data on court postponements caused by recent interpreter protests at a later stage.
For now, affected interpreters remain in limbo, hoping for long-overdue relief.