The deputy head of Judiciary in South Sudan John Gatwech Lul has threatened to take administrative action against striking judges who will not resume duty.

According to the Judiciary, judges should return to work because they are taking part in a two-month strike that has crippled the over-stretched judiciary leaving courts unable to hear cases across the country.

The threat comes after President Kiir on Wednesday dismissed 14 judges who spearheaded the strike and demanded higher wages and the resignation of the chief justice Chan Reech Madut.

“For those ones who have not been dismissed and who are still on strike, we in the Judiciary, the leadership of Judiciary and the leadership of this country led by the president of the republic Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit, we are demanding that they come back and report back to work,” said Gatwech yesterday.

“They have now crippled the country. We need justice to be administered. If they continue and this is … we are not threatening them, and we are advising them that if they continue, we will take action, administrative action against those who will still continue with the strike,” he added.

He pointed out that all demands which are reasonable will be fulfilled by the government.

The country’s judiciary is a constitutionally mandated government branch that oversees the court systems. The head of the Judiciary is answerable to the President for the administration of the judiciary.