Senior Court Interpreter
Office Of The Chief Justice (0Cj)
- Location
- Mthatha, Eastern Cape
- Salary (as advertised)
- R338 106 – R398 277 per year
- Minimum qualification
- Diploma
- Closing date
First listed . Last checked at source .
In brief
**Overview** This role is for a Senior Court Interpreter within the Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ), specifically assigned to the Eastern Cape Division of The High Court in Mthatha. The position is at salary Level 07, with a remuneration range of R338 106 - R398 277 per annum. The successful candidate will be required to sign a performance agreement. **What you will do** The Senior Court Interpreter will primarily render interpreting services in a wide range of legal and quasi-judicial matters, including: * Children’s Act matters * Criminal proceedings * Civil proceedings * Domestic Violence Act matters * Older Persons Act matters * Family matters * Protection from Harassment Act matters * Labour matters * Maintenance Act matters * Child Justice matters * Inquests * Small claims Courts * Disciplinary hearings * Conciliation and Arbitration * Confessions * Pre-trial proceedings and consultations Key responsibilities include: * Liaising with the supervisor regarding foreign language interpreters. * Interpreting from source to target language during Court proceedings, pre-trial, consultation, and quasi-judicial settings. * Interpreting non-verbal gestures, dramatization, and confessions. * Engaging with the judiciary to confer on the readiness and/or performance of a particular interpreter in Court. * Rendering legal, quasi-judicial, and language services by providing audible and clear interpreting from source to target language without embellishment or omissions, preserving the language, conveying correct language usage, controlling the speaker, and ensuring citations are interpreted correctly. * Translating legal documents and exhibits, which involves studying and analysing source documents, conducting necessary research, consulting with relevant parties, ensuring accurate translation, checking, editing, and revising translated documents, and translating mechanically recorded audio material. * Developing terminology and providing support in the reconstruction of records by accumulating terminology, developing a database, populating terms and their meanings in a glossary register, gathering all trial documents, attending to mechanical recordings, and comparing notes from the Presiding Officer, State, and Defence. **Requirements (from the original advert)** * **Qualification**: A National Diploma in Legal Interpreting or an equivalent qualification at NQF level six (6) with 360 credits as recognised by SAQA. * **Experience**: A minimum of two (2) years’ practical experience in Court Interpreting, OR a Grade twelve (12) certificate with at least ten (10) years’ practical experience in Court Interpreting. * **Proficiency**: Proficiency in English, isiXhosa, Afrikaans, isiZulu, or Sesotho. * **Added Advantage**: A valid driver’s license. * **Assessment**: All shortlisted candidates shall undertake a pre-entry practical exercise as part of the assessment method. * **Knowledge and Skills**: * Knowledge of relevant acts and regulations * Knowledge of culture * Knowledge of subject area * Knowledge on how to translate and ability 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 * People centric **Who should apply** This role is suitable for individuals with a legal interpreting qualification (National Diploma at NQF 6 or equivalent) and at least two years of court interpreting experience, or alternatively, those with a Grade 12 certificate and a substantial ten years of practical court interpreting experience. Candidates must be proficient in English and at least one of the specified indigenous South African languages (isiXhosa, Afrikaans, isiZulu, or Sesotho). The ideal candidate will possess strong knowledge of legal acts and regulations, cultural nuances, and translation techniques, coupled with excellent communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills. They should be computer literate, meticulous, analytical, able to work under pressure, self-driven, and people-centric, with a strong commitment to accurate and clear interpretation in a fast-paced legal environment. **Deadline** Not specified **Reference** Original posting: https://www.govpage.co.za/vacancies/office-of-the-chief-justice-0cj-vacancies-circular-36-of-2026#spani-ref-2026-141-ocj Source: govpage
Summary drafted with AI assistance from the original advert. The advert itself is the authority — how we use AI.
At a glance
- Microsoft Office
- Customer service
- isiZulu
- Afrikaans
Extracted automatically from the advert; confirm requirements on the original listing.
Job description
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