The Highlanders slumped to a 34-27 loss to the Kings in Port Elizabeth yesterday to remain firmly entrenched at the bottom of the competition.
Although Joseph acknowledged his side did not play well and made too many mistakes, he said Jaftha was inconsistent throughout, and questioned why there were three inexperienced officials in charge of the game.
Jaftha, who has just turned 28, is in his first season at this level, while assistant referees Sindile Mayende and Christie du Preez have never refereed a Super 15 game.
Joseph was concerned at Jaftha's actions even before the game.
''He came into our dressing room before the game and started talking to individual players. That is the first time I have ever experienced that,'' Joseph told the Otago Daily Times from South Africa.
''Normally, they come in to talk to the front-rowers as a group but he went to the loose forwards and started talking about other things. I intervened and said, `Talk to me about it'.
''You've got a young guy out there in charge and before you know it, the first three penalties were all against us at the breakdown. But the way he was talking in the dressing room, it wasn't surprising.
''So we knew we were up against it.''
The Kings scored their two tries in the first half through rolling mauls off lineouts. Joseph said the referee had told the Kings players to use the ball when their maul was going backwards yet allowed them to regroup and go again.
When asked if he would take his complaints to a higher level, he said: ''What's the use? The disappointing thing for me is we are seeing a lot of this this year.
''Just a lot of inconsistency and mistakes from these guys. You saw [Chiefs coach] Dave Rennie sounding off the other day.''
Joseph said the players and officials just wanted consistency and the same rulings for both teams, but they did not get that in Port Elizabeth.
With the Kings and the Highlanders bottom of the table, the match was never going to get top-grade officials.
Joseph watched his side start poorly again, and said the Highlanders made too many mistakes against what he described as a very energetic Kings team.
''We made too many errors, tried to run the ball from 5m out from the tryline and gave it away, did not kick our goals, and were up against a very good and highly committed Kings team.''
The major injury worry coming out of the game was lock Josh Bekhuis, who popped an AC joint. He would be assessed in the next couple of days but Joseph said it appeared serious.
The Highlanders are unlikely to fly over a replacement as they have plenty of cover in the second row.
It does not get any easier, with the Bulls - fresh off a bye - lying in wait for the Highlanders in Pretoria next week.
With the Kings scoring two tries from rolling mauls, a traditional Bulls strength, the Highlanders may have to spend plenty of time on that part of the game this week.
The Highlanders have beaten the Bulls in the past two encounters and Joseph said the key was to stop the rolling maul and their kicking game.
