JUDGE’S SECRETARY is a South African government vacancy at Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ). This job is part of Circular 17 of 2026 from the DPSA. 2 posts available | centre: KwaZulu Natal Division of The High Court: Durban | closing date: 05 June 2026. Use this page to review the requirements, duties, application instructions and official source links before applying.
Job details
Salary
R338 106 – R398 277 per annum (Level 07). The successful candidate will be required to sign a performance agreement.
Centre
KwaZulu Natal Division of The High Court: Durban
Requirements
- Applicants should be in possession of a Grade twelve (12) certificate.
- An LLB Degree, Bachelor of Law or a minimum of 20 modules completed towards an LLB or BA Law will serve as an added advantage.
- A minimum of one (01) year legal secretarial experience.
- To pass a typing test.
- Experience in a Legal/ Court environment and a valid driver’s license 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: Good communication skills (verbal and written), administration and organizational skills, exceptional interpersonal skills, ability to meet strict deadlines and to work under pressure, attention to detail, customer service skills, excellent typing skills including Dictaphone typing, confidentiality and time management, computer literacy (MS Word) and research capabilities.
Duties
Render Secretarial support to the Judiciary, diarise the appointments and meetings of the Judge, type and file the judgments, ensure the Judgments that are handed down (delivered), signed draft orders granted in Court or virtually are sent to the Typist for scanning, upload unto Case-lines/Court-Online and the Library, ensure that all visitors are received, screened and their queries are attended to, record all incoming and outgoing documents, order and collect stationery for the Judge, provide support functions to Civil, Criminal and review matters/Courts and case allocations in chambers, collect the files before the commencement of a Criminal matter from the Registrar’s office at the criminal section, keep updating the register of reviews and sign on receipt to return the reviews to the Clerk, ensure that the register/template of the reserved judgement is updated and notify the Statistics Officer and the office of the Judge President when judgment has been handed down, ensure that the transcribed judgements from transcribers reach the Judges for approval and signature, prepare court rolls for Opposed Motion and Urgent Court and distribute to stakeholders, ensure that the Heads of Arguments from various stakeholders are available to the Judge as per the filing that was done, provide support functions to civil / criminal courts, administer the correct Oath ID or declaration in court when required, ensure that the bench book of the Judge is prepared and files are taken by Ushers to Court before the commencement of the proceedings, ensure that all stakeholders involved are present in court before commencement of proceedings, ensure that all cases are called on record as per the Court roll by means of calling the case number and the parties’ names, before a Judge can allow parties to start with their matters, ensure that in the Criminal Court exhibits are handled, controlled and noted professionally, provide general administrative support to the Judiciary, ensure that all the travel, accommodation arrangements are in order and attend to sign the documents for approval, ensure that the Judge’s logbook is submitted on or before the 5th of every month to the Transport Officer, ensure that the car is booked for either maintenance and service, receive the pre-authorisation for the Judge’s vehicle, remind Judge of the invoices so that the submission of the S&T claims can be processed, ensure the submissions of Cell phone and 3G data claims for process purposes and ensure that all updates on the loose leafs in the Judges library are attended to.
Enquiries
Technical Related Enquiries: Ms K Marais Tel No: (031) 492 4699 HR Related Enquiries: Ms SZ Mvuyana Tel No: (031) 4931723
Applications
Where to send your application.
Applications can be sent via email to 2026/34/OCJ@judiciary.org.za
Department Notes
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 CV 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 other 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 Integrity (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 following 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 considered. Suitable candidates will be subjected to a personnel suitability check (criminal record, financial checks, qualification 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 appointment, 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 personal 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 personal 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 Office of the Chief Justice will safeguard the security and confidentiality of all information you shared during the recruitment process.
Notes
The Organisation will give preference to candidates in line with Employment Equity goals.
Z83 form: Government job applications usually require the Z83 application form. Download the Z83 application form before applying.
Original Text
SALARY : R338 106 – R398 277 per annum (Level 07). The successful candidate will be required to sign a performance agreement.
CENTRE : KwaZulu Natal Division of The High Court: Durban
REQUIREMENTS : Applicants should be in possession of a Grade twelve (12) certificate. An LLB Degree, Bachelor of Law or a minimum of 20 modules completed towards an
LLB or BA Law will serve as an added advantage. A minimum of one (01) year legal secretarial experience. To pass a typing test. Experience in a Legal/ Court
environment and a valid driver’s license 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: Good
communication skills (verbal and written), administration and organizational skills, exceptional interpersonal skills, ability to meet strict deadlines and to
work under pressure, attention to detail, customer service skills, excellent typing skills including Dictaphone typing, confidentiality and time management,
computer literacy (MS Word) and research capabilities.
DUTIES : Render Secretarial support to the Judiciary, diarise the appointments and meetings of the Judge, type and file the judgments, ensure the Judgments that
are handed down (delivered), signed draft orders granted in Court or virtually are sent to the Typist for scanning, upload unto Case-lines/Court-Online and
the Library, ensure that all visitors are received, screened and their queries are attended to, record all incoming and outgoing documents, order and collect
stationery for the Judge, provide support functions to Civil, Criminal and review matters/Courts and case allocations in chambers, collect the files before the
commencement of a Criminal matter from the Registrar’s office at the criminal section, keep updating the register of reviews and sign on receipt to return the
reviews to the Clerk, ensure that the register/template of the reserved judgement is updated and notify the Statistics Officer and the office of the
Judge President when judgment has been handed down, ensure that the transcribed judgements from transcribers reach the Judges for approval and
signature, prepare court rolls for Opposed Motion and Urgent Court and distribute to stakeholders, ensure that the Heads of Arguments from various
stakeholders are available to the Judge as per the filing that was done, provide support functions to civil / criminal courts, administer the correct Oath ID or
declaration in court when required, ensure that the bench book of the Judge is prepared and files are taken by Ushers to Court before the commencement of
the proceedings, ensure that all stakeholders involved are present in court before commencement of proceedings, ensure that all cases are called on
record as per the Court roll by means of calling the case number and the parties’ names, before a Judge can allow parties to start with their matters,
ensure that in the Criminal Court exhibits are handled, controlled and noted professionally, provide general administrative support to the Judiciary, ensure
that all the travel, accommodation arrangements are in order and attend to sign the documents for approval, ensure that the Judge’s logbook is submitted on
or before the 5th of every month to the Transport Officer, ensure that the car is booked for either maintenance and service, receive the pre-authorisation for
the Judge’s vehicle, remind Judge of the invoices so that the submission of the
S&T claims can be processed, ensure the submissions of Cell phone and 3G data claims for process purposes and ensure that all updates on the loose leafs
in the Judges library are attended to.
ENQUIRIES : Technical Related Enquiries: Ms K Marais Tel No: (031) 492 4699 HR Related Enquiries: Ms SZ Mvuyana Tel No: (031) 4931723
APPLICATIONS : Applications can be sent via email to 2026/34/OCJ@judiciary.org.za
NOTE : The Organisation will give preference to candidates in line with Employment Equity goals.
Official source
This vacancy was imported from DPSA Circular 17 of 2026 for reference.
Disclaimer: This vacancy was imported from the official DPSA circular PDF. Please confirm the reference number, closing date, and application instructions in the original circular before applying. View the official DPSA vacancy circulars.