Legal Aid South Africa is facing the possibility of protected strike action after the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) issued a certificate of non-resolution in its dispute with the South African Legal Aid Workers Union (SALAWU).

The dispute centres on retirement policies, labour conditions and broader workplace grievances, and has now formally entered the industrial action phase.SALAWU is legally required to provide at least 48 hours’ notice before any strike can begin.

According to the signed picketing rules, protests could take place outside Legal Aid offices, magistrates’ courts, high courts, Parliament in Cape Town and the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development headquarters in Pretoria.Demonstrations are planned in several major centres including Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, Pretoria and Polokwane.The rules prohibit protesters from blocking entrances, intimidating workers or disrupting court operations.

SALAWU alleges that Legal Aid SA unilaterally enforced a retirement age of 60 without proper consultation, despite earlier expectations that the age would be increased to 65.

The union claims affected employees suffered financial losses and raised additional concerns about salary benchmarking delays, staff shortages, unpaid bursaries and worsening workloads.

Legal Aid SA rejected these claims, stating that the retirement age of 60 was approved by its board in 2018 and later endorsed by the ministers of justice and finance in 2020 after consultation with employees.

The organisation also denied withholding salaries from retiring staff and said contingency plans are being prepared to limit operational disruption should a strike proceed.

Further talks between Legal Aid SA and SALAWU are scheduled for 29 May 2026, with both sides indicating that negotiations remain ongoing despite the escalation of the dispute.