Parliament has stepped into the escalating labour dispute at Legal Aid South Africa, aiming to mediate between management and workers' representatives.

The intervention follows a two-day protected strike in June and a further setback in direct talks between Legal Aid SA and the South African Lawyers and Allied Workers Union (SALAWU).

A scheduled meeting between the union and Legal Aid SA was abruptly cancelled without explanation, prompting criticism from SALAWU president Andile Mavatha.

The dispute involves unresolved issues such as retirement age, salary benchmarking, and workloads, with SALAWU alleging management has ignored workers' demands.

Parliament's Justice and Constitutional Development Committee has agreed to host a meeting with both parties, highlighting the urgency of the matter for the justice system's functioning.Legal Aid SA faces severe funding pressures, having appealed to Parliament for R261 million to address budget cuts.

Deputy Justice Minister Andries Nel warned that under-resourcing could lead to court backlogs, underscoring the critical nature of resolving the dispute.