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

Notices

Directions : All Courts, Court Precincts and Justice Service Points in the Republic of South Africa

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

 

(a) Only persons with a material interest in a case such as, litigants, accused, witnesses, and persons accompanying, or persons who may be needed to provide support such as those accompanying children, victims of domestic violence or sexually abused persons 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 precincts may 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 authorised security officials for the purposes of enforcing acceptable social distancing.

 

(d) A person who entered the Republic a week before, during or after the declaration of the National State of Disaster, may not be allowed to enter the court, court precinct or justice service point during the state of disaster, unless the matter is urgent or essential, and the person has been screened and found not to be infected with COVID-19.

 

(e) A person who has been in contact with, or exposed to, persons who are from high risk countries may not be allowed to enter a court, a court precinct or a justice service point during the state of national disaster.

 

(f) A person who has been in contact with, or exposed to, persons who have tested positive for COVID-19 may not be allowed to enter a court, a court precinct or a justice service point during the state of national disaster.

 

(g) Foreign language interpreters, where required during the state of national disaster, must be sourced from within the province in which the case is heard. Where an interpreter is not available within the province, alternative arrangements for audiovisual interpretation must be made.