Only essential justice services available at courts

The amended Directions were published in the Government Gazette on March 31 and replace the ones issued on March 26.

They are as follows:

* As part of government’s measures to curb the spread of Covid-19, essential justice services will be available at courts only between 10:00 and 13:00 daily during the lock down period (27 March to April 16);

* Family Law services will only attend to urgent applications in respect of matters referred to the Family Advocate by the court with urgent applications. Applications for protection orders will still be addressed, as will enforcement orders;

* The offices of the Master of the High Court will attend to urgent appointments in terms of deceased estates, as well as curatorship;

* Criminal courts will be open to people over bail applications and first applications. Matters on the court roll will be rescheduled and members of the public will be informed of new dates for court appearances;

* Audio-visual remand technology at Correctional Centres will be used as widely as possible to mitigate the need for persons in custody to appear in court;

* Persons whose matter are on the court rolls and not urgent, should therefore (for the purposes of lock down) stay home and not attend to the courthouse until after the lock down. The courts will ensure that they are advised of time new dates to which their matters were postponed.

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“The department encourages members of the public to adhere to the regulations issued in terms of the Disaster Management Act. While every effort is being made to ensure that South Africans can access essential justice services, we you to work with us to adhere to the lock down measures in order to stop the spread of the virus,” minister Lamola said in conclusion.