Updated Directions Issued for Access to Justice Under Level 3

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.