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Justice Minister Ronald Lamola has announced an increase in regional courts that will resolve civil disputes starting in December 2020.
Until recently, regional courts heard more serious criminal offenses and civil disputes, including divorce matters.
In terms of the Magistrates Court Law, the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, effective December 1, 2020, designated each regional court as the venue for the holding of a civil court.
The places thus listed for holding a court for the resolution of civil disputes are established in Government Gazette 43861, October 30, 2020.
“Until the end of November, only a few regional courts could hear civil matters,” said the Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services.
“Before this change was made, people often had to travel long distances, and at great cost, to litigate and gain access to civil law services offered by regional courts, including hearing their divorce applications.” the ministry said on Tuesday.
Now with the publication of the seats in the newsletter, people can access these services closer to where they live.
With the appointment of more seats, divorce issues and civil disputes such as those involving low-priced real estate such as RDP houses can be heard closer to where people live.
“A lot of the seats are in historically black areas and rural towns. For example, in the former Transkei area of the Eastern Cape, people would have had to travel to Mthatha to have their divorces known.
“With the new changes, they can now go to any of the 25 Regional Courts scattered throughout the region. There are, in total, 72 proclaimed regional civil court seats in the Eastern Cape province. “
Similarly, in the South Cape, for example, where people would have needed to travel to George for a divorce, they can now go to Heidelberg, Mossel Bay, Oudtshoorn, Plettenberg Bay, Riversdale, Swellendam, Thembalethu, or Uniondale to access the services of civil law. .
There are 32 seats in the Western Cape to serve the population of the province.
Most importantly, the shortened distances will also exponentially reduce the cost of bailiffs, as the fees payable to serve the judicial process will be calculated from the proclaimed areas and no longer from the main city or town court.
“Regional courts are essential to guarantee access to justice. Improving access to justice means bringing the courts closer to the people, which, in turn, minimizes costs and hassle of listening.
“By establishing these civil seats, we are bringing justice to the gates of people’s farms,” said the minister.
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