Updated directions issued for access to justice under level 3

15 Jun 2020

On 2 June 2020 the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Mr Ronald Ozzy Lamola updated the directives regarding access to the justice service points under Lockdown Alert Level 3. Below is a summary of some of the important points to take note of, if you require access to the courts and related services.

Permitted services under Alert Level 3 include:

Civil Matters

• Matters that can be dealt with online, in writing or via teleconference;
• Urgent Motion Applications;
• Urgent Civil Trials, including COVID-19 related cases,
• Taxations;
• Debt Review Applications;
• Divorce Proceedings;
• Interlocutory Applications and Trials;
• Issues of Court process (process and proceedings and filing of papers);
• Ex Parte applications;
• Endorsements of Powers of Attorneys;
• Applications for leave to appeal, appeals and reviews; and
• Any hearings for matters allowed by the Presiding Officer

Family Services

• Child and spousal maintenance proceedings;
• Protection order;
• Foster care applications and hearings;
• Guardianship, care and contact, care and protection proceedings in respect of children;
• International child abduction cases;
• Adoption applications and hearings;
• Mediation and Facilitation.

Sheriffs Services

• Services of all processes and orders and the execution of writs and warrants and online sales in execution;
• Evictions may not be conducted unless in terms of Regulation 36 of the Alert level 3 Regulations.

Should you require any further information about this, please do tno hesitate to contact us.

(This article is provided for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. For more information on the topic, please contact the author/s or the relevant provider.)