Justice lost in translation

Poorly trained freelance court interpreters are causing "injustices", the Judicial Services Commission heard in Cape Town.

Zaba Nkosi, who was being interviewed for a position as a judge in the KwaZulu-Natal High Court, said a number of injustices would have occurred if he, as a Zulu speaker, had not been presiding as the judge.

"We need to bring interpreters under control to make sure they do what they are paid to do," he said.

"They need to be tested all the time to see whether they are proficient in languages. They need to be trained as well."

Nkosi said the department of justice could possibly "bring in measures" to help achieve that.

It was important for courts to find ways to accommodate other languages, Nkosi said.

JSC Commissioner CP Fourie said it was vital for interpreters to be controlled once they were admitted to the courts.

"The importance of what they do cannot be underestimated," he said.

Earlier, JSC commissioners grilled candidate Soma Naidoo on why she thought she would be the right candidate for the KwaZulu-Natal High Court which already had five Indian women serving on its Bench.

"I don't think the colour of the judge would make such a difference," she said.

"From my view. I am a South African; it doesn't matter what colour I am. I am passionate about serving the community in which I live and ensuring that justice is done."