Office of the Chief Justice Vacancies 2026: Circular 38 of 2026
The Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ) has announced new employment opportunities under Vacancy Circular 38 of 2026 in South Africa. The advertised positions cover court administration, information technology, human resources, legal library services and organisational development.
Official OCJ vacancies page:
https://www.judiciary.org.za/index.php/ocj/vacancies
The vacancies are based at different offices, including Midrand, Mmabatho, Bloemfontein and Cape Town. Opportunities range from entry-level clerical positions that require Grade 12 and no previous experience to specialised technical and senior management roles.
The closing date for applications is 9 November 2026. Interested candidates should review the official vacancy circular carefully and submit their applications using the method specified for their preferred position.
1. Job Overview
The Office of the Chief Justice is recruiting candidates for various positions supporting the administration and operation of South Africa’s superior courts.
Applicants should select positions that match their qualifications, work experience and professional skills. Each vacancy has its own reference number, requirements, salary and application email address.
2. Available Vacancies and Job Details
The following positions appear in Office of the Chief Justice Vacancy Circular 38 of 2026.
| No. | Position | Location | Salary per annum |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chief Registrar | High Court, Mmabatho | R610,434–R1,442,451 |
| 2 | Principal Librarian | Supreme Court of Appeal, Bloemfontein | R413,001–R486,501 |
| 3 | Junior Systems Tester | National Office, Midrand | R413,001–R486,501 |
| 4 | Junior Functional Application Support | National Office, Midrand | R413,001–R486,501 |
| 5 | Junior Developer (2 posts) | National Office, Midrand | R413,001–R486,501 |
| 6 | Senior Organisational Development Practitioner | National Office, Midrand | R413,001–R486,501 |
| 7 | Registry Clerk | National Office, Midrand | R237,453–R279,708 |
| 8 | Human Resource Clerk | Supreme Court of Appeal, Bloemfontein | R237,453–R279,708 |
| 9 | Registrar’s Clerk (2 posts) | Western Cape Division of the High Court, Cape Town | R237,453–R279,708 |
The circular lists nine job categories, with two vacancies each for Junior Developer and Registrar’s Clerk. The salary for the Chief Registrar is advertised under management level MR6; the other salary levels are specified in the official circular.
3. About the Office of the Chief Justice
The Office of the Chief Justice supports the administration of South Africa’s superior courts. Its functions include court administration, registry services and operational support for judicial institutions.
The organisation recruits people with legal, administrative, information technology, human resources and library services expertise to support its operations.
The OCJ states that it is an equal opportunity employer. Its recruitment process takes employment equity objectives into consideration, with preference given to women, persons with disabilities and youth in accordance with the circular.
4. Duties and Responsibilities
Responsibilities vary according to the position.
Chief Registrar
- Manage court information and case documentation systems.
- Support case-flow management and court efficiency.
- Liaise with external court stakeholders.
- Oversee staff performance and provide leadership in court administration.
Principal Librarian
- Manage legal library collections and information resources.
- Support legal research and access to relevant judgments and precedents.
- Coordinate library services, procurement and administrative activities.
- Supervise library staff.
Junior Systems Tester
- Test applications and software systems.
- Maintain test cases, scripts and related documentation.
- Identify and report software defects.
- Support quality assurance and system performance monitoring.
Junior Functional Application Support
- Provide second-line support for application-related incidents.
- Conduct system and user acceptance testing.
- Assist users with application functionality and troubleshooting.
- Maintain technical documentation and follow up on reported incidents.
Junior Developer
- Design, develop and maintain software solutions.
- Conduct code reviews and participate in testing.
- Prepare technical documentation and deployment guidance.
- Support software quality assurance and system improvements.
Senior Organisational Development Practitioner
- Conduct organisational and work-study investigations.
- Develop and review job descriptions and organisational structures.
- Support job evaluation processes.
- Assist with change management and organisational development initiatives.
Registry Clerk
- File, store, track and retrieve official records.
- Maintain registry registers and transfer records.
- Organise files for archiving and distribution.
- Assist with correspondence and requests for records.
Human Resource Clerk
- Support recruitment, selection and appointment processes.
- Process leave applications and personnel documentation.
- Maintain human resources records and databases.
- Assist with correspondence, meetings and administrative reports.
Registrar’s Clerk
- Register court documents and allocate case numbers.
- Maintain and retrieve court files.
- Assist with case management and court recordkeeping.
- Respond to queries from litigants and members of the public.
Applicants should consult the full advertisement for the duties associated with each post.
5. Minimum Requirements and Qualifications
The requirements differ depending on the vacancy.
| Position | Main qualification and experience requirements |
|---|---|
| Chief Registrar | LLB degree or recognised four-year legal qualification; at least eight years’ post-qualification experience as a Registrar; valid driver’s licence |
| Principal Librarian | National Diploma in Library Science, Information Science or equivalent at NQF Level 6 with 360 credits; at least two years’ relevant library experience |
| Junior Systems Tester | National Diploma in IT, Computer Science or relevant equivalent at NQF Level 6; at least two years’ relevant experience |
| Junior Functional Application Support | National Diploma in IT, Computer Science or relevant equivalent at NQF Level 6; at least two years’ relevant experience |
| Junior Developer | National Diploma in IT, Software Development or equivalent at NQF Level 6; at least two years’ relevant experience |
| Senior Organisational Development Practitioner | National Diploma in Management Services, Operations Management, Production Management or equivalent at NQF Level 6 with 360 credits; at least two years’ organisational development experience |
| Registry Clerk | Grade 12 or equivalent at NQF Level 4; no experience required |
| Human Resource Clerk | Grade 12 or equivalent at NQF Level 4; no experience required |
| Registrar’s Clerk | Grade 12 or equivalent at NQF Level 4; no experience required |
A valid driver’s licence is listed as an added advantage for several technical and organisational development roles. The Chief Registrar position requires a valid driver’s licence.
For the Principal Librarian position, legal or law library experience is an added advantage. The Human Resource Clerk and Registrar’s Clerk advertisements also indicate that a relevant qualification in the field would be an added advantage.
These summaries are not a substitute for the complete requirements in the circular. Candidates should verify all technical knowledge, skills and additional criteria before applying.
6. Skills and Competencies
Depending on the position, applicants may need to demonstrate:
- Computer literacy and knowledge of relevant office or technical systems.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Planning, organising and time management abilities.
- Analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Attention to detail and accurate recordkeeping.
- Knowledge of public service procedures and relevant legislation.
- Technical skills in software testing, application support or development for IT positions.
- Research, information management and library administration skills for the Principal Librarian position.
- Knowledge of court registry and case management procedures for court administration positions.
Candidates should highlight the skills that are relevant to the specific vacancy in their CV.
7. Salary and Employment Conditions
The advertised annual salary ranges are:
- Chief Registrar: R610,434–R1,442,451.
- Principal Librarian, Junior Systems Tester, Junior Functional Application Support, Junior Developer and Senior Organisational Development Practitioner: R413,001–R486,501.
- Registry Clerk, Human Resource Clerk and Registrar’s Clerk: R237,453–R279,708.
The official circular states that successful candidates will be required to sign a performance agreement. The Chief Registrar position has additional salary and experience-determination provisions.
Applicants should consult the full advertisement for any further employment conditions applicable to their chosen post.
8. How to Apply for OCJ Vacancies
Applications must follow the instructions in the official vacancy circular.
- Visit the Office of the Chief Justice vacancies page.
- Open Vacancy Circular 38 of 2026.
- Identify the position that matches your qualifications and experience.
- Download and complete the current Z83 application form.
- Prepare a recent, comprehensive CV with contactable referees, including telephone numbers and email addresses.
- Quote the correct job title, office and reference number.
- Save the application documents as PDF files and place them in one folder, as instructed in the circular.
- Email your application to the specific address listed for the position.
The circular provides separate application email addresses for the advertised posts. Candidates must use the correct email address rather than sending every application to a general address.
The application instructions state that certified copies of qualifications and other related documents will be requested from shortlisted candidates on or before the interview, following communication from Human Resources. Foreign qualifications must be accompanied by the required evaluation.
9. Application Closing Date
The closing date for Office of the Chief Justice Vacancy Circular 38 of 2026 is 9 November 2026.
Applicants should submit their applications before the deadline and ensure that all required information is included. Late or incomplete applications may not be considered.
10. Important Information for Applicants
Before submitting your application, remember the following:
- Use the new Z83 application form. Applications on the old form will not be considered.
- Complete, sign and initial both pages of the Z83 form.
- Include a recent, comprehensive CV and contactable referees.
- Save the documents as PDFs and place them in one folder, as instructed.
- Clearly state the job title, office and reference number.
- Send the application to the email address specified for the position.
- Prepare for practical or integrity assessments where applicable.
- Shortlisted candidates may undergo personnel suitability checks, including qualification, criminal record, financial, citizenship, reference and employment verification.
- The OCJ states that candidates who have not been contacted within three months after the closing date should consider their applications unsuccessful.
- The organisation reserves the right not to make an appointment.
11. Official Vacancy Circular and Application Links
Candidates can access the official vacancy announcement and full application instructions through the following links:
Official OCJ vacancies page:
https://www.judiciary.org.za/index.php/ocj/vacancies
Download Vacancy Circular 38 of 2026 (PDF)
The circular contains the full duties, qualifications, reference numbers, enquiry contacts and application email addresses for each position.
Conclusion
Office of the Chief Justice Vacancy Circular 38 of 2026 offers opportunities for candidates in court administration, information technology, human resources, library services and organisational development.
Some positions require specialised qualifications and relevant experience, while the Registry Clerk, Human Resource Clerk and Registrar’s Clerk vacancies require Grade 12 and do not require previous experience.
Interested applicants should read the official circular carefully and submit the correct application documents before 9 November 2026.
Disclaimer: This article summarises the official vacancy circular for informational purposes. The Office of the Chief Justice’s published circular takes precedence if any details change or differ.
Tags: OCJ