Cape Times reports that Legal Aid SA (LASA) has scrapped more than 100 posts from its establishment due to budget cuts in 2021-22 financial year.

This was revealed by Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola when responding to parliamentary questions from IFP Themba Msimang, who had noted that the justice and correctional services portfolio committee had recently been informed of the dire situation faced by LASA due to budgetary constraints. He had asked Lamola to furnish him with a detailed breakdown of the total number of vacancies that currently existed at LASA. In his written reply, Lamola said LASA had a total of 221 vacancies out of 2,669 budget positions as at 31 March. He said the number of vacancies had dropped to 176 out of 2,699 budgeted posts as at May. “This translates to 93.5% staffing level versus an annual performance plan target of 95% and 6.5% vacancy rate,” Lamola advised. However, he said LASA reduced its establishment by 119 positions – 91 legal practitioners and 28 support staff – in 2021-22. This was to cushion the budget cuts of R182m and the envisaged baseline reduction of R352,623,000 over the 2022-24 medium term expenditure framework (MTEF). “In addition, Legal Aid SA implemented various cost cutting measures to optimize available resources. This includes the reduction of employee benefits, operational and capital expenditure budget and minimal use of consultants,” Lamola said. His replies showed the positions scrapped in April 2021 by province.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mayibongwe Maqhina at Cape Times

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