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Supreme Court Act, 1959 (Act No. 59 of 1959)

1. Definitions

 

(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise indicates—

 

"Chief Justice"

means the Chief Justice of South Africa;

 

"civil summons"

means any summons whereby civil proceedings are commenced, and includes any rule nisi, notice of motion or petition the object of which is to require the appearance before the court out of which it is issued of any person against whom relief is sought in such proceedings or of any person who is interested in resisting the grant of such relief;

 

"defendant"

includes any respondent or other party against whom relief is sought in civil proceedings;

 

"division"

means a division of the Supreme Court;

 

"full court"

except for the purposes of section 13(1), means a court of a provincial or local division consisting of three judges;

 

"inferior court"

means any court (other than the court of a division) which is required to keep a record of its proceedings, and includes a magistrate or other officer holding a preparatory examination into an alleged offence;

 

"Minister"

means the Minister of Justice;

 

"plaintiff"

includes any petitioner or other party who seeks relief in civil proceedings;

 

"provincial division"

includes the Eastern Cape division and the Northern Cape division;

 

"registrar"

includes an assistant registrar;

 

"Supreme Court"

means the Supreme Court of South Africa.

 

(2) Any reference in any law to the Eastern Districts Local Division of the Supreme Court of South Africa shall be construed as a reference to the Eastern Cape Division.