Jobs · Eastern Cape · Office of the Chief Justice
Senior Court InterpreterEastern Cape Division of The High Court: Makhanda
Closes Friday 27 November 2026
The circular is the only authoritative source. Open the PDF at page 62 (opens in new tab)
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Senior court interpreter at the Eastern Cape Division of the High Court in Makhanda. Suits people who can interpret and translate legal material in English, Afrikaans and isiXhosa.
- Interpret in court and quasi-judicial matters, including criminal, civil, children's, family and domestic violence cases.
- Translate legal documents and exhibits, and translate recorded audio.
- Help build terminology lists and support the reconstruction of court records.
- Must have a National Diploma in Legal Interpreting or an equivalent NQF level 6 (360 credits) qualification recognised by SAQA, plus at least two years' court interpreting experience. Or a Grade 12 certificate with at least ten years' court interpreting experience.
- Must be proficient in English, Afrikaans and isiXhosa. Other indigenous languages and a valid driver's licence are an added advantage.
- Based in Makhanda, Eastern Cape. The successful candidate must sign a performance agreement.
Generated by claude-haiku-5-5 from the text below; it may be wrong or incomplete. Original wording, page 62 (opens in new tab)
Requirements
- Applicants should be in possession of a National Diploma in Legal Interpreting or equivalent qualification at NQF level six (6) with 360 credits as recognised by SAQA.
- A minimum of two (2) years’ practical experience in Court Interpreting or Grade twelve (12) certificate with at least ten (10) years’ practical experience in Court Interpreting.
- Proficiency in English, Afrikaans and isiXhosa.
- Proficiency in any other indigenous languages and a valid driver’s license will serve as an added advantage.
- Knowledge and skills:
- Knowledge of relevant acts and regulations, knowledge of culture, knowledge of subject area, knowledge on how to translate and be able to keep to time frame, computer literacy (MS Office), effective communication skills (written and verbal), time management, good interpersonal relations skills, listening skills, customer service skills, problem solving skills, planning and organising skills, decision making skills. analytical thinking, excellent English language, flexible, motivational, able to work under pressure, meticulous, self-driven and people centric.
Duties
- Render interpreting services:
- Interpret in Children’s Act matters, criminal proceedings, Civil proceedings, Domestic Violence Act matters, Older Persons Act matters, Family, Protection from Harassment Act matters, Labour, Maintenance Act matters, Child Justice matters, Inquests, and quasi-judicial matters, interpret in small claims Courts, interpret in disciplinary hearing, interpret in Conciliation and Arbitration, interpret in confession.
- Interpret in pretrial proceedings and consultations, liaise with the supervisor for foreign language interpreters, interpret from source to target language during Court proceedings, pre-trial, consultation, quasi, judicial. interpret non-verbal gestures, dramatization and confessions, engage with the judiciary to confer on the readiness and/or performance of a particular interpreter in Court, render legal and quasi-judicial and language service:
- Render audible and clear interpreting from source to target language without embellishment or omissions while preserving the language, convey the correct language in accordance with language usage of the speaker, control the speaker and ensure that the citations are interpreted correctly, interpret non-verbal gestures dramatization 61 and confessions, translate legal documents and exhibits:
- Study and analyse the source document, conduct the necessary research and consult with the relevant parties, ensure accurate cite translation documents, check, edit and revise the translated document, translate mechanically recorded audio material.
- Develop terminology and provide support in the reconstruction of records:
- Accumulate terminology and develop database, populate the terms and respective meaning in the glossary register, gather all trial documents, attend to mechanical recordings, compare notes of the Presiding Officer, State and Defence.
How to apply
Applications can be sent via email to 2026/171/OCJ@judiciary.org.za
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Enquiries
Technical related enquiries: Ms L Frazer Tel No: (046) 603 5009 HR related enquiries: Mr S Mponzo Tel No: (430) 726 5217
Notes from the department
The Organisation will give preference to candidates in line with the Employment Equity goals.
As printed in Circular 41 of 2026 · page 62 · open the PDF (opens in new tab)
POST 41/106: SENIOR COURT INTERPRETER REF NO: 2026/171/OCJ SALARY: R338 106 – R398 277 per annum (Level 07). The successful candidate will be required to sign a performance agreement CENTRE: Eastern Cape Division of The High Court: Makhanda REQUIREMENTS: Applicants should be in possession of a National Diploma in Legal Interpreting or equivalent qualification at NQF level six (6) with 360 credits as recognised by SAQA. A minimum of two (2) years’ practical experience in Court Interpreting or Grade twelve (12) certificate with at least ten (10) years’ practical experience in Court Interpreting. Proficiency in English, Afrikaans and isiXhosa. Proficiency in any other indigenous languages and a valid driver’s license will serve as an added advantage. Knowledge and skills: Knowledge of relevant acts and regulations, knowledge of culture, knowledge of subject area, knowledge on how to translate and be able to keep to time frame, computer literacy (MS Office), effective communication skills (written and verbal), time management, good interpersonal relations skills, listening skills, customer service skills, problem solving skills, planning and organising skills, decision making skills. analytical thinking, excellent English language, flexible, motivational, able to work under pressure, meticulous, self-driven and people centric. DUTIES: Render interpreting services: Interpret in Children’s Act matters, criminal proceedings, Civil proceedings, Domestic Violence Act matters, Older Persons Act matters, Family, Protection from Harassment Act matters, Labour, Maintenance Act matters, Child Justice matters, Inquests, and quasi-judicial matters, interpret in small claims Courts, interpret in disciplinary hearing, interpret in Conciliation and Arbitration, interpret in confession. Interpret in pretrial proceedings and consultations, liaise with the supervisor for foreign language interpreters, interpret from source to target language during Court proceedings, pre-trial, consultation, quasi, judicial. interpret non-verbal gestures, dramatization and confessions, engage with the judiciary to confer on the readiness and/or performance of a particular interpreter in Court, render legal and quasi-judicial and language service: Render audible and clear interpreting from source to target language without embellishment or omissions while preserving the language, convey the correct language in accordance with language usage of the speaker, control the speaker and ensure that the citations are interpreted correctly, interpret non-verbal gestures dramatization 61 and confessions, translate legal documents and exhibits: Study and analyse the source document, conduct the necessary research and consult with the relevant parties, ensure accurate cite translation documents, check, edit and revise the translated document, translate mechanically recorded audio material. Develop terminology and provide support in the reconstruction of records: Accumulate terminology and develop database, populate the terms and respective meaning in the glossary register, gather all trial documents, attend to mechanical recordings, compare notes of the Presiding Officer, State and Defence. ENQUIRIES: Technical related enquiries: Ms L Frazer Tel No: (046) 603 5009 HR related enquiries: Mr S Mponzo Tel No: (430) 726 5217 APPLICATIONS: Applications can be sent via email to 2026/171/OCJ@judiciary.org.za NOTE: The Organisation will give preference to candidates in line with the Employment Equity goals.