p>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.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.