PRINCIPAL COURT INTERPRETER

Job Overview

The Office of the Chief Justice is hiring a Principal Court Interpreter for the KwaZulu-Natal Division of The High Court in Pietermaritzburg. Candidates require a National Diploma in Legal Interpreting (NQF Level 6) with 360 credits, alongside a minimum of two years of practical court interpreting experience, including one year at a supervisory level. Responsibilities include providing interpreting services for criminal, civil, and labour courts, translating legal documents, supervising staff, and managing terminology databases. Applications must be submitted via email.

Requirements & Qualifications

• 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 of which one (1) year should be at supervisory level
• A valid driver’s license will serve as an added advantage
• Knowledge of Batho Pele and the OCJ Principles, Court proceedings, Cultural diversity, Knowledge of Policies, Prescripts, and Legislation and Full command of the language
• Skilled in communication, computer literacy, listening, interpersonal, customer service orientation, planning and organising, problem solving and confidentiality
• Ability to work under pressure and art of interpreting

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Render interpreting services in high profile matters and complex cases in criminal, civil, Labour Court, and Small claims Court
• Control and attend to personnel administrative aspects of Interpreters
• Provide coaching and mentorship to junior Interpreters
• Manage performance agreement contracts and draw a schedule for replacement of Court Interpreters
• Translate Legal documents and exhibits, study and analyse source documents, conduct necessary research and consult
• Check, edit and revise translated documents
• Procure foreign language interpreters and casuals in line with PFMA and relevant policy
• Report statistics to be generated and escalated to the cluster manager for consolidation
• Authorise payments of foreign and casual language interpreters
• Develop terminology, harvest terminology, and manage database development
• Provide terms and their respective meanings in the glossary register
• Supervise and develop staff, allocate duties, and perform quality control on the work delivered by officials

Enquiries & Contact