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Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002)

Notices

Directions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in all Courts, Court Precincts and Justice Service Points in the Republ

2. Restricted access to the court precinct and all justice service points

 

(a) Persons with a material interest in a case such as, litigants, accused, witnesses, those who may be needed to provide support such as those accompanying children, victims of domestic violence or sexual abuse and persons with disabilities, family members, and members of the media will be permitted to enter the court precinct, provided that the judicial officer concerned must order that the number of persons in a room be reduced to comply with safety measures and social distancing requirements.

 

(b) Entry into the courts and court precinct shall only be allowed in respect of urgent and essential matters.

 

(c) The number of persons entering courts, court precincts or justice service points will be limited by court management and security officials for purposes of enforcing acceptable social distancing.

 

(d) Persons from outside the borders of the Republic who entered the Republic a week before, during or after the declaration of the National State of Disaster, will not be allowed to enter the court precinct or justice service point during the lockdown, unless the matter is urgent or essential, and they have they have been screened and found not to be infected with COVID -19.

 

(e) Persons who have been in contact with or exposed to persons who are from high risk countries will not be allowed to enter a court precinct or justice service point during the lockdown.

 

(f) Persons who have been in contact with or exposed to persons who have tested positive for COVID -19 will not be allowed to enter the court precinct or justice service point.

 

(g) Foreign language interpreters, where required during the lockdown, must be sourced from within the Province in which the case is heard and where an interpreter is not available within the Province alternative arrangements for audio-visual interpretation must be made.