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Courts of South Africa - Wikipedia

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<div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2</span> <span>Supreme Court of Appeal</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Supreme_Court_of_Appeal-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-High_Court" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#High_Court"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>High Court</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-High_Court-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Magistrates&#039;_courts" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Magistrates&#039;_courts"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>Magistrates' courts</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Magistrates&#039;_courts-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Specialist_courts" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Specialist_courts"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>Specialist courts</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Specialist_courts-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Military_courts" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Military_courts"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6</span> <span>Military courts</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Military_courts-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-See_also" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#See_also"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7</span> <span>See also</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-See_also-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item 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<div class="vector-body-before-content"> <div class="mw-indicators"> </div> <div id="siteSub" class="noprint">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">For the judicial system, see <a href="/wiki/Judiciary_of_South_Africa" title="Judiciary of South Africa">Judiciary of South Africa</a>.</div> <p class="mw-empty-elt"> </p> <figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a 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.sidebar-title-with-pretitle{background:transparent!important}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle a{color:var(--color-progressive)!important}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-list-title,html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle{background:transparent!important}html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle a{color:var(--color-progressive)!important}}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .sidebar{display:none!important}}</style><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><table class="sidebar sidebar-collapse nomobile nowraplinks vcard hlist" style="width:19.0em;"><tbody><tr><td class="sidebar-pretitle"><b><span style="color:var(--color-emphasized, black);">This article is part of a series on the</span></b></td></tr><tr><th class="sidebar-title-with-pretitle" style="background:#007A4D; border: 1px double #8C959A; border-bottom: 10px solid #FFB612;"><a href="/wiki/Politics_of_South_Africa" title="Politics of South Africa"><span style="color:#FFFFFF;"><small>Politics of</small><br />South Africa</span></a></th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-image"><figure class="mw-halign-center" typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Coat_of_arms_of_South_Africa_(heraldic).svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/Coat_of_arms_of_South_Africa_%28heraldic%29.svg/90px-Coat_of_arms_of_South_Africa_%28heraldic%29.svg.png" decoding="async" width="90" height="115" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/Coat_of_arms_of_South_Africa_%28heraldic%29.svg/135px-Coat_of_arms_of_South_Africa_%28heraldic%29.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/Coat_of_arms_of_South_Africa_%28heraldic%29.svg/180px-Coat_of_arms_of_South_Africa_%28heraldic%29.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1117" data-file-height="1432" /></a><figcaption></figcaption></figure></td></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="color: var(--color-base)"><a href="/wiki/Constitution_of_South_Africa" title="Constitution of South Africa">Constitution</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content" style="text-align:center;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Chapter_Two_of_the_Constitution_of_South_Africa" title="Chapter Two of the Constitution of South Africa">Bill of Rights</a></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="color: var(--color-base)"><a href="/wiki/Government_of_South_Africa" title="Government of South Africa">Executive</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content" style="text-align:center;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/President_of_South_Africa" title="President of South Africa">President</a> <dl><dd><a href="/wiki/Cyril_Ramaphosa" title="Cyril Ramaphosa">Cyril Ramaphosa</a></dd></dl></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Deputy_President_of_South_Africa" title="Deputy President of South Africa">Deputy President</a> <dl><dd><a href="/wiki/Paul_Mashatile" title="Paul Mashatile">Paul Mashatile</a></dd></dl></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cabinet_of_South_Africa" title="Cabinet of South Africa">Cabinet</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Departments_of_the_Government_of_South_Africa" title="Departments of the Government of South Africa">Departments</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Official_Opposition_Shadow_Cabinet_(South_Africa)" title="Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet (South Africa)">Shadow Cabinet</a></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="color: var(--color-base)"><a href="/wiki/Parliament_of_South_Africa" title="Parliament of South Africa">Legislature</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content" style="text-align:center;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/National_Council_of_Provinces" title="National Council of Provinces">National Council of Provinces</a> <dl><dd><a href="/wiki/National_Council_of_Provinces#Chairpersons" title="National Council of Provinces">Chairperson</a> <dl><dd><a href="/wiki/Refilwe_Mtsweni-Tsipane" title="Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane">Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane</a></dd></dl></dd></dl></li> <li><a href="/wiki/National_Assembly_of_South_Africa" title="National Assembly of South Africa">National Assembly</a> <dl><dd><a href="/wiki/Speaker_of_the_National_Assembly_of_South_Africa" title="Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa">Speaker</a> <dl><dd><a href="/wiki/Thoko_Didiza" title="Thoko Didiza">Thoko Didiza</a></dd></dl></dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/Leader_of_the_Opposition_(South_Africa)" title="Leader of the Opposition (South Africa)">Leader of the Opposition</a> <dl><dd><a href="/wiki/John_Hlophe" title="John Hlophe">John Hlophe</a></dd></dl></dd></dl></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="color: var(--color-base)"><a href="/wiki/Judiciary_of_South_Africa" title="Judiciary of South Africa">Judiciary</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content" style="text-align:center;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Chief_Justice_of_South_Africa" title="Chief Justice of South Africa">Chief Justice</a> <dl><dd><a href="/wiki/Ray_Zondo" class="mw-redirect" title="Ray Zondo">Ray Zondo</a></dd></dl></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Deputy_Chief_Justice_of_South_Africa" title="Deputy Chief Justice of South Africa">Deputy Chief Justice</a> <dl><dd><a href="/wiki/Mandisa_Maya" title="Mandisa Maya">Mandisa Maya</a></dd></dl></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Courts</a> <dl><dd><a href="/wiki/Constitutional_Court_of_South_Africa" title="Constitutional Court of South Africa">Constitutional Court</a></dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_Appeal_of_South_Africa" class="mw-redirect" title="Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa">Supreme Court of Appeal</a> <dl><dd>President: <a href="/wiki/Mahube_Molemela" title="Mahube Molemela">Mahube Molemela</a></dd></dl></dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/High_Court_of_South_Africa" title="High Court of South Africa">High Court</a></dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/Magistrate%27s_court_(South_Africa)" title="Magistrate&#39;s court (South Africa)">Magistrate's courts</a></dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/Electoral_Court_of_South_Africa" title="Electoral Court of South Africa">Electoral Court</a></dd></dl></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="color: var(--color-base)"><a href="/wiki/Elections_in_South_Africa" title="Elections in South Africa">Elections</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content" style="text-align:center;"> <ul><li>General <dl><dd><div style="display: inline-block; line-height: 1.2em; padding: .1em 0;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="/wiki/1910_South_African_general_election" title="1910 South African general election">1910</a> <a href="/wiki/1915_South_African_general_election" title="1915 South African general election">1915</a> <a href="/wiki/1920_South_African_general_election" title="1920 South African general election">1920</a> <a href="/wiki/1921_South_African_general_election" title="1921 South African general election">1921</a> <a href="/wiki/1924_South_African_general_election" title="1924 South African general election">1924</a> <a href="/wiki/1929_South_African_general_election" title="1929 South African general election">1929</a> <a href="/wiki/1933_South_African_general_election" title="1933 South African general election">1933</a> <a href="/wiki/1938_South_African_general_election" title="1938 South African general election">1938</a> <a href="/wiki/1943_South_African_general_election" title="1943 South African general election">1943</a> <a href="/wiki/1948_South_African_general_election" title="1948 South African general election">1948</a> <a href="/wiki/1953_South_African_general_election" title="1953 South African general election">1953</a> <a href="/wiki/1958_South_African_general_election" title="1958 South African general election">1958</a> <a href="/wiki/1961_South_African_general_election" title="1961 South African general election">1961</a> <a href="/wiki/1966_South_African_general_election" title="1966 South African general election">1966</a> <a href="/wiki/1970_South_African_general_election" title="1970 South African general election">1970</a> <a href="/wiki/1974_South_African_general_election" title="1974 South African general election">1974</a> <a href="/wiki/1977_South_African_general_election" title="1977 South African general election">1977</a> <a href="/wiki/1981_South_African_general_election" title="1981 South African general election">1981</a> <a href="/wiki/1984_South_African_general_election" title="1984 South African general election">1984</a> <a href="/wiki/1987_South_African_general_election" title="1987 South African general election">1987</a> <a href="/wiki/1989_South_African_general_election" title="1989 South African general election">1989</a> <a href="/wiki/1994_South_African_general_election" title="1994 South African general election">1994</a> <a href="/wiki/1999_South_African_general_election" title="1999 South African general election">1999</a> <a href="/wiki/2004_South_African_general_election" title="2004 South African general election">2004</a> <a href="/wiki/2009_South_African_general_election" title="2009 South African general election">2009</a> <a href="/wiki/2014_South_African_general_election" title="2014 South African general election">2014</a> <a href="/wiki/2019_South_African_general_election" title="2019 South African general election">2019</a> <a href="/wiki/2024_South_African_general_election" title="2024 South African general election">2024</a></span></div></dd></dl></li> <li>Municipal <dl><dd><div style="display: inline-block; line-height: 1.2em; padding: .1em 0;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="/wiki/2000_South_African_municipal_elections" title="2000 South African municipal elections">2000</a> <a href="/wiki/2006_South_African_municipal_elections" title="2006 South African municipal elections">2006</a> <a href="/wiki/2011_South_African_municipal_elections" title="2011 South African municipal elections">2011</a> <a href="/wiki/2016_South_African_municipal_elections" title="2016 South African municipal elections">2016</a> <a href="/wiki/2021_South_African_municipal_elections" title="2021 South African municipal elections">2021</a></span></div></dd></dl></li> <li>Referendums <dl><dd><div style="display: inline-block; line-height: 1.2em; padding: .1em 0;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="/wiki/1960_South_African_republic_referendum" title="1960 South African republic referendum">1960</a> <a href="/wiki/1983_South_African_constitutional_reform_referendum" class="mw-redirect" title="1983 South African constitutional reform referendum">1983</a> <a href="/wiki/1992_South_African_apartheid_referendum" title="1992 South African apartheid referendum">1992</a></span></div></dd></dl></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_political_parties_in_South_Africa" title="List of political parties in South Africa">Political parties</a></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="color: var(--color-base)"><a href="/wiki/Administrative_divisions_of_South_Africa" title="Administrative divisions of South Africa">Administrative divisions</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content" style="text-align:center;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Provinces_of_South_Africa" title="Provinces of South Africa">Provinces</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Districts_of_South_Africa" title="Districts of South Africa">Districts</a> <dl><dd><a href="/wiki/Metropolitan_municipality_(South_Africa)" title="Metropolitan municipality (South Africa)">Metropolitan municipality</a></dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/District_municipality_(South_Africa)" class="mw-redirect" title="District municipality (South Africa)">District municipality</a></dd></dl></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Municipalities_of_South_Africa" title="Municipalities of South Africa">Municipalities</a> (<a href="/wiki/List_of_South_African_municipalities" class="mw-redirect" title="List of South African municipalities">list</a>)</li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="color: var(--color-base)"><a href="/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_South_Africa" title="Foreign relations of South Africa">Foreign relations</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content" style="text-align:center;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Department_of_International_Relations_and_Cooperation" title="Department of International Relations and Cooperation">Department of International Relations and Cooperation</a> <dl><dd><a href="/wiki/Minister_of_International_Relations_and_Cooperation" title="Minister of International Relations and Cooperation">Minister</a>: <a href="/wiki/Naledi_Pandor" title="Naledi Pandor">Naledi Pandor</a></dd></dl></li></ul> <hr /> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_diplomatic_missions_of_South_Africa" title="List of diplomatic missions of South Africa">Diplomatic missions of</a> / <a href="/wiki/List_of_diplomatic_missions_in_South_Africa" title="List of diplomatic missions in South Africa">in South Africa</a></li></ul> <hr /> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/South_African_nationality_law" title="South African nationality law">Nationality law</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/South_African_passport" title="South African passport">Passport</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Visa_requirements_for_South_African_citizens" title="Visa requirements for South African citizens">Visa requirements</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Visa_policy_of_South_Africa" title="Visa policy of South Africa">Visa policy</a></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed plainlist"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="color: var(--color-base)">Related topics</div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content" style="text-align:center;;text-align:center;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Human_rights_in_South_Africa" title="Human rights in South Africa">Human rights</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/National_debt_of_South_Africa" class="mw-redirect" title="National debt of South Africa">National debt</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Political_assassinations_in_post-apartheid_South_Africa" title="Political assassinations in post-apartheid South Africa">Political assassinations</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Protests_in_South_Africa" title="Protests in South Africa">Protests</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Political_repression_in_post-apartheid_South_Africa" title="Political repression in post-apartheid South Africa">Repression</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Social_welfare_programmes_in_South_Africa" title="Social welfare programmes in South Africa">Social Welfare</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Taxation_in_South_Africa" title="Taxation in South Africa">Taxation</a></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed plainlist"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="color: var(--color-base)">Provincial politics</div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content" style="text-align:center;;text-align:center;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Politics_of_the_Eastern_Cape" title="Politics of the Eastern Cape">Politics of the Eastern Cape</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Politics_of_the_Free_State" class="mw-redirect" title="Politics of the Free State">Politics of the Free State</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Politics_of_Gauteng" class="mw-redirect" title="Politics of Gauteng">Politics of Gauteng</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Politics_of_KwaZulu-Natal" class="mw-redirect" title="Politics of KwaZulu-Natal">Politics of KwaZulu-Natal</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Politics_of_Limpopo" title="Politics of Limpopo">Politics of Limpopo</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Politics_of_Mpumalanga" title="Politics of Mpumalanga">Politics of Mpumalanga</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Politics_of_the_Northern_Cape" title="Politics of the Northern Cape">Politics of the Northern Cape</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Politics_of_North_West_(South_African_province)" class="mw-redirect" title="Politics of North West (South African province)">Politics of North West</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Politics_of_the_Western_Cape" title="Politics of the Western Cape">Politics of the Western Cape</a></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-below"> <span class="nowrap"><span class="mw-image-border noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="flag" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/Flag_of_South_Africa.svg/32px-Flag_of_South_Africa.svg.png" decoding="async" width="32" height="21" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/Flag_of_South_Africa.svg/48px-Flag_of_South_Africa.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/Flag_of_South_Africa.svg/64px-Flag_of_South_Africa.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Portal:South_Africa" title="Portal:South Africa">South Africa&#32;portal</a> <div class="hlist" style="text-align:center;font-weight:normal;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Outline_of_political_science#Politics_by_region" title="Outline of political science">Other countries</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-navbar"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239400231">.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:inline;font-size:88%;font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .navbar-collapse{float:left;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .navbar-boxtext{word-spacing:0}.mw-parser-output .navbar ul{display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;line-height:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::before{margin-right:-0.125em;content:"[ "}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::after{margin-left:-0.125em;content:" ]"}.mw-parser-output .navbar li{word-spacing:-0.125em}.mw-parser-output .navbar a>span,.mw-parser-output .navbar a>abbr{text-decoration:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-mini abbr{font-variant:small-caps;border-bottom:none;text-decoration:none;cursor:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-full{font-size:114%;margin:0 7em}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-mini{font-size:114%;margin:0 4em}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}@media(prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}}@media print{.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:none!important}}</style><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Politics_of_South_Africa" title="Template:Politics of South Africa"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Politics_of_South_Africa" title="Template talk:Politics of South Africa"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Politics_of_South_Africa" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Politics of South Africa"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>The <b>courts of South Africa</b> are the <a href="/wiki/Civil_law_(common_law)" title="Civil law (common law)">civil</a> and <a href="/wiki/Criminal_law" title="Criminal law">criminal</a> <a href="/wiki/Court" title="Court">courts</a> responsible for the <a href="/wiki/Administration_of_justice" title="Administration of justice">administration of justice</a> in South Africa. They apply the <a href="/wiki/Law_of_South_Africa" title="Law of South Africa">law of South Africa</a> and are established under the <a href="/wiki/Constitution_of_South_Africa" title="Constitution of South Africa">Constitution of South Africa</a> or under Acts of the <a href="/wiki/Parliament_of_South_Africa" title="Parliament of South Africa">Parliament of South Africa</a>. </p><p>Despite South Africa's division into nine <a href="/wiki/Provinces_of_South_Africa" title="Provinces of South Africa">provinces</a>, the country has a single national court system. The courts are funded and supported by the national <a href="/wiki/Department_of_Justice_and_Constitutional_Development_(South_Africa)" class="mw-redirect" title="Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (South Africa)">Department of Justice and Constitutional Development</a>. The <a href="/wiki/Ordinary_courts" class="mw-redirect" title="Ordinary courts">ordinary courts</a> are the district and regional <a href="/wiki/Magistrate%27s_court_(South_Africa)" title="Magistrate&#39;s court (South Africa)">magistrates' courts</a>, the provincial divisions of the <a href="/wiki/High_Court_of_South_Africa" title="High Court of South Africa">High Court</a>, and the <a href="/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_Appeal_of_South_Africa" class="mw-redirect" title="Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa">Supreme Court of Appeal</a>. The <a href="/wiki/Constitutional_Court_of_South_Africa" title="Constitutional Court of South Africa">Constitutional Court</a> is the highest court for <a href="/wiki/Constitutional_law" title="Constitutional law">constitutional matters</a>. </p><p>Specialist courts have been established for various matters, including Labour Courts, the Land Claims Court, Special Income Tax Courts, and the Electoral Court. African <a href="/wiki/Customary_law" title="Customary law">customary law</a> is administered by <a href="/wiki/Tribal_chief" title="Tribal chief">chiefs'</a> and <a href="/wiki/Village_head" title="Village head">headmen's</a> courts, subject to the <a href="/wiki/National_House_of_Traditional_Leaders" title="National House of Traditional Leaders">National House of Traditional Leaders</a>. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Constitutional_Court">Constitutional Court</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Courts_of_South_Africa&amp;action=edit&amp;section=1" title="Edit section: Constitutional Court"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:ConstitutionalCourtofSouthAfrica-20070622.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/ConstitutionalCourtofSouthAfrica-20070622.jpg/170px-ConstitutionalCourtofSouthAfrica-20070622.jpg" decoding="async" width="170" height="255" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/ConstitutionalCourtofSouthAfrica-20070622.jpg/255px-ConstitutionalCourtofSouthAfrica-20070622.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/ConstitutionalCourtofSouthAfrica-20070622.jpg/340px-ConstitutionalCourtofSouthAfrica-20070622.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1664" data-file-height="2496" /></a><figcaption>The Constitutional Court</figcaption></figure> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Constitutional_Court_of_South_Africa" title="Constitutional Court of South Africa">Constitutional Court of South Africa</a></div> <p>The Constitutional Court is the final court of appeals for all matters (no longer limited to constitutional matters only), and its decisions are binding on all other courts in South Africa. It has the power to make the final decision on the constitutionality of an act of <a href="/wiki/Parliament_of_South_Africa" title="Parliament of South Africa">Parliament</a> or of a <a href="/wiki/Provincial_legislature_(South_Africa)" title="Provincial legislature (South Africa)">provincial legislature</a>; while a High Court or the Supreme Court of Appeals may make an order declaring an act to be unconstitutional, the order does not come into effect until the Constitutional Court confirms it. </p><p>The Constitutional Court was established by the <a href="/wiki/Interim_Constitution_of_South_Africa" class="mw-redirect" title="Interim Constitution of South Africa">Interim (1993) Constitution</a> and continued under the <a href="/wiki/Constitution_of_South_Africa" title="Constitution of South Africa">Final (1996) Constitution</a>. The court has eleven judges; originally the chief judge was called the President of the Constitutional Court, but that title was changed to <a href="/wiki/Chief_Justice_of_South_Africa" title="Chief Justice of South Africa">Chief Justice of South Africa</a> by the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution. The Constitutional Court has its seat on <a href="/wiki/Constitution_Hill,_Johannesburg" title="Constitution Hill, Johannesburg">Constitution Hill</a> in <a href="/wiki/Johannesburg" title="Johannesburg">Johannesburg</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Supreme_Court_of_Appeal">Supreme Court of Appeal</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Courts_of_South_Africa&amp;action=edit&amp;section=2" title="Edit section: Supreme Court of Appeal"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_Appeal_of_South_Africa" class="mw-redirect" title="Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa">Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa</a></div> <p>The Supreme Court of Appeal hears only appeals from the High Court or other courts of similar status to the High Court. The court sits in <a href="/wiki/Bloemfontein" title="Bloemfontein">Bloemfontein</a>; the chief judge is called the <a href="/w/index.php?title=President_of_the_Supreme_Court_of_Appeal&amp;action=edit&amp;redlink=1" class="new" title="President of the Supreme Court of Appeal (page does not exist)">President of the Supreme Court of Appeal</a>. It has its origin in the Appellate Division of the <a href="/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_South_Africa" title="Supreme Court of South Africa">Supreme Court of South Africa</a>, which was established by the <a href="/wiki/South_Africa_Act" class="mw-redirect" title="South Africa Act">South Africa Act</a> at the formation of the <a href="/wiki/Union_of_South_Africa" title="Union of South Africa">Union of South Africa</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="High_Court">High Court</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Courts_of_South_Africa&amp;action=edit&amp;section=3" title="Edit section: High Court"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Jo%27burg_High_Court.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/Jo%27burg_High_Court.jpg/220px-Jo%27burg_High_Court.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/Jo%27burg_High_Court.jpg/330px-Jo%27burg_High_Court.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/Jo%27burg_High_Court.jpg/440px-Jo%27burg_High_Court.jpg 2x" data-file-width="800" data-file-height="600" /></a><figcaption>The local seat of the <a href="/wiki/Gauteng_Division" title="Gauteng Division">Gauteng Division</a> in <a href="/wiki/Johannesburg" title="Johannesburg">Johannesburg</a></figcaption></figure> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/High_Court_of_South_Africa" title="High Court of South Africa">High Court of South Africa</a></div> <p>The provincial divisions of the <a href="/wiki/High_Court_of_South_Africa" title="High Court of South Africa">High Court of South Africa</a> have <a href="/wiki/General_jurisdiction" title="General jurisdiction">general jurisdiction</a> over their defined areas. They hear appeals from the <a href="/wiki/Magistrate%27s_court_(South_Africa)" title="Magistrate&#39;s court (South Africa)">magistrates' courts</a> within their area, and act as a <a href="/wiki/Original_jurisdiction" title="Original jurisdiction">court of first instance</a> for cases outside the jurisdiction of the magistrates' courts. The present divisions of the High Court are: </p> <ul><li>The <a href="/wiki/Eastern_Cape_Division" title="Eastern Cape Division">Eastern Cape Division</a> at <a href="/wiki/Grahamstown" class="mw-redirect" title="Grahamstown">Grahamstown</a> with local seats at <a href="/wiki/Bhisho" title="Bhisho">Bhisho</a>, <a href="/wiki/Mthatha" title="Mthatha">Mthatha</a> and <a href="/wiki/Port_Elizabeth" class="mw-redirect" title="Port Elizabeth">Port Elizabeth</a></li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/Free_State_Division" title="Free State Division">Free State Division</a> at <a href="/wiki/Bloemfontein" title="Bloemfontein">Bloemfontein</a></li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/Gauteng_Division" title="Gauteng Division">Gauteng Division</a> at <a href="/wiki/Pretoria" title="Pretoria">Pretoria</a> with a local seat at <a href="/wiki/Johannesburg" title="Johannesburg">Johannesburg</a></li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/KwaZulu-Natal_Division" title="KwaZulu-Natal Division">KwaZulu-Natal Division</a> at <a href="/wiki/Pietermaritzburg" title="Pietermaritzburg">Pietermaritzburg</a> with a local seat at <a href="/wiki/Durban" title="Durban">Durban</a></li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/Limpopo_Division" title="Limpopo Division">Limpopo Division</a> at <a href="/wiki/Polokwane" title="Polokwane">Polokwane</a> with local seats at <a href="/wiki/Thohoyandou" title="Thohoyandou">Thohoyandou</a> and <a href="/wiki/Lephalale" title="Lephalale">Lephalale</a></li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/Mpumalanga_Division" title="Mpumalanga Division">Mpumalanga Division</a> at <a href="/wiki/Mbombela" title="Mbombela">Mbombela</a> with a local seat at <a href="/wiki/Middelburg,_Mpumalanga" title="Middelburg, Mpumalanga">Middelburg</a></li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/North_West_Division_of_the_High_Court_of_South_Africa" title="North West Division of the High Court of South Africa">North West Division</a> at <a href="/wiki/Mahikeng" class="mw-redirect" title="Mahikeng">Mahikeng</a></li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/Northern_Cape_Division" title="Northern Cape Division">Northern Cape Division</a> at <a href="/wiki/Kimberley,_Northern_Cape" title="Kimberley, Northern Cape">Kimberley</a></li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/Western_Cape_Division" title="Western Cape Division">Western Cape Division</a> at <a href="/wiki/Cape_Town" title="Cape Town">Cape Town</a></li></ul> <p>The origins of the High Court lie in the Supreme Courts of the four colonies (the <a href="/wiki/Cape_Colony" title="Cape Colony">Cape Colony</a>, <a href="/wiki/Transvaal_Colony" title="Transvaal Colony">Transvaal Colony</a>, <a href="/wiki/Natal_Colony" class="mw-redirect" title="Natal Colony">Natal Colony</a> and <a href="/wiki/Orange_River_Colony" title="Orange River Colony">Orange River Colony</a>) from which the <a href="/wiki/Union_of_South_Africa" title="Union of South Africa">Union of South Africa</a> was formed; these became provincial divisions of the Supreme Court of South Africa. On receiving nominal independence the <a href="/wiki/Bantustans" class="mw-redirect" title="Bantustans">bantustans</a> of <a href="/wiki/Transkei" title="Transkei">Transkei</a>, <a href="/wiki/Bophuthatswana" title="Bophuthatswana">Bophuthatswana</a>, <a href="/wiki/Venda" title="Venda">Venda</a> and <a href="/wiki/Ciskei" title="Ciskei">Ciskei</a> established their own Supreme Courts; when they were re-integrated into South Africa on 27 April 1994 these courts were given the same status as provincial divisions of the Supreme Court of South Africa. </p><p>The 1996 Constitution renamed the provincial and local divisions of the Supreme Court of South Africa, as well as the bantustan Supreme Courts, to High Courts. Since that time some changes have been made to rationalise the areas of jurisdiction of the courts; the courts have also been renamed in accordance with the names of the new provinces. The <a href="/wiki/Superior_Courts_Act,_2013" title="Superior Courts Act, 2013">Superior Courts Act, 2013</a> restructured the High Courts into divisions of a single High Court of South Africa, and also provided for the creation of divisions for Limpopo and Mpumalanga, which had previously fallen under the jurisdiction of the Gauteng High Court at Pretoria. </p><p>The Gauteng Division of the High Court in Johannesburg includes a <a href="/wiki/Business_courts" class="mw-redirect" title="Business courts">Commercial Court</a> Division.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">&#91;</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">&#93;</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Magistrates'_courts"><span id="Magistrates.27_courts"></span>Magistrates' courts</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Courts_of_South_Africa&amp;action=edit&amp;section=4" title="Edit section: Magistrates&#039; courts"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Jo%27burg_-_Kempton_Park_Court.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Jo%27burg_-_Kempton_Park_Court.jpg/220px-Jo%27burg_-_Kempton_Park_Court.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="130" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Jo%27burg_-_Kempton_Park_Court.jpg/330px-Jo%27burg_-_Kempton_Park_Court.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Jo%27burg_-_Kempton_Park_Court.jpg/440px-Jo%27burg_-_Kempton_Park_Court.jpg 2x" data-file-width="800" data-file-height="471" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/Kempton_Park,_Gauteng" class="mw-redirect" title="Kempton Park, Gauteng">Kempton Park</a> Magistrate's Court</figcaption></figure> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Magistrate%27s_court_(South_Africa)" title="Magistrate&#39;s court (South Africa)">Magistrate's court (South Africa)</a></div> <p>South Africa is divided into approximately 350 magisterial districts; each district is served by a district magistrate's court. In criminal cases, district courts have jurisdiction over all crimes except <a href="/wiki/Treason" title="Treason">treason</a>, <a href="/wiki/Murder" title="Murder">murder</a> and <a href="/wiki/Rape" title="Rape">rape</a>, and can impose a sentence of no more than three years imprisonment and a fine of no more than <a href="/wiki/South_African_rand" title="South African rand">R</a>120,000.<sup id="cite_ref-sabinet-magistrate-criminal_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-sabinet-magistrate-criminal-2"><span class="cite-bracket">&#91;</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">&#93;</span></a></sup> They can hear civil cases where the value of the claim is no more than R200,000.<sup id="cite_ref-sabinet-magistrate-civil_3-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-sabinet-magistrate-civil-3"><span class="cite-bracket">&#91;</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">&#93;</span></a></sup> </p><p>The magisterial districts are grouped into regions; each region has a regional court which may sit at multiple locations. In criminal cases, regional courts have jurisdiction over all crimes except treason, and can impose a sentence of no more than fifteen years imprisonment and a fine of no more than R600,000.<sup id="cite_ref-sabinet-magistrate-criminal_2-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-sabinet-magistrate-criminal-2"><span class="cite-bracket">&#91;</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">&#93;</span></a></sup> They can hear civil cases where the value of the claim is no more than R400,000<sup id="cite_ref-sabinet-magistrate-civil_3-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-sabinet-magistrate-civil-3"><span class="cite-bracket">&#91;</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">&#93;</span></a></sup> as well as divorce cases. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Specialist_courts">Specialist courts</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Courts_of_South_Africa&amp;action=edit&amp;section=5" title="Edit section: Specialist courts"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Parliament has established specialist courts to handle specific areas of law or types of case. In some cases these courts have exclusive jurisdiction and the matters are excluded from the jurisdiction of the High Court and the magistrates' courts. </p><p>The <a href="/wiki/Labour_Court_(South_Africa)" class="mw-redirect" title="Labour Court (South Africa)">Labour Court</a>, which has status similar to a High Court division, deals with <a href="/wiki/Labour_law" title="Labour law">labour law</a> and the relationship between employer, employee and trade union, in particular cases arising under the <a href="/w/index.php?title=Basic_Conditions_of_Employment_Act_(South_Africa)&amp;action=edit&amp;redlink=1" class="new" title="Basic Conditions of Employment Act (South Africa) (page does not exist)">Basic Conditions of Employment Act (South Africa)</a> the <a href="/w/index.php?title=Labour_Relations_Act_(South_Africa)&amp;action=edit&amp;redlink=1" class="new" title="Labour Relations Act (South Africa) (page does not exist)">Labour Relations Act</a> and the <a href="/wiki/Employment_Equity_Act" class="mw-redirect" title="Employment Equity Act">Employment Equity Act</a>. The <a href="/wiki/Labour_Appeal_Court_(South_Africa)" class="mw-redirect" title="Labour Appeal Court (South Africa)">Labour Appeal Court</a> has status similar to the Supreme Court of Appeal, and hears appeals from the Labour Court. There is no further appeal except on constitutional matters, in which case appeals may be heard by the Constitutional Court. </p><p>The <a href="/wiki/Land_Claims_Court" class="mw-redirect" title="Land Claims Court">Land Claims Court</a>, which has status similar to a High Court division, handles claims for restitution, or compensation in place of restitution, to people or communities dispossessed of land under racially discriminatory laws. It also deals with certain other cases involving agricultural labour tenants and other people who do not have secure rights to the land on which they live. </p><p>The <a href="/wiki/Electoral_Court_(South_Africa)" class="mw-redirect" title="Electoral Court (South Africa)">Electoral Court</a>, which has status similar to a High Court division, handles matters related to elections, and in particular appeals against decisions of the <a href="/wiki/Electoral_Commission_(South_Africa)" class="mw-redirect" title="Electoral Commission (South Africa)">Electoral Commission</a>. </p><p><a href="/w/index.php?title=Tax_Courts_(South_Africa)&amp;action=edit&amp;redlink=1" class="new" title="Tax Courts (South Africa) (page does not exist)">Tax Courts</a> handle disputes between taxpayers and the <a href="/wiki/South_African_Revenue_Service" title="South African Revenue Service">South African Revenue Service</a> over tax assessments. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Military_courts">Military courts</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Courts_of_South_Africa&amp;action=edit&amp;section=6" title="Edit section: Military courts"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Members of the <a href="/wiki/South_African_National_Defence_Force" title="South African National Defence Force">South African National Defence Force</a> are subject to the Military Discipline Code and the jurisdiction of the military courts. Minor military offences are dealt with in a disciplinary hearing by the <a href="/wiki/Commanding_officer" title="Commanding officer">commanding officer</a>, who may impose penalties like fines, confinement to barracks, or extra duty. For serious offences, SANDF members are tried in a Court of a Military Judge or a Court of a Senior Military Judge. These courts consist of a legally trained officer as judge and two officers or warrant officers as assessors. The judge decides questions of law, while the judge and assessors decide questions of fact by a majority vote. Certain offences (murder, rape, treason, culpable homicide, crimes against humanity and war crimes) may only be tried in the ordinary civilian courts. </p><p>Appeals from the military courts are to the Court of Military Appeals, which consists of a civilian judge or magistrate (or in some cases three civilian judges), a legally trained military officer, and another officer with command experience. Rulings on this court may be taken on review to the civilian High Court (and subsequently to the Supreme Court of Appeal and Constitutional Court) only on the grounds of procedural unfairness or constitutional invalidity. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Courts_of_South_Africa&amp;action=edit&amp;section=7" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Government_of_South_Africa" title="Government of South Africa">Government of South Africa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Judiciary_of_South_Africa" title="Judiciary of South Africa">Judiciary of South Africa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Law_of_South_Africa" title="Law of South Africa">Law of South Africa</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Courts_of_South_Africa&amp;action=edit&amp;section=8" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://ppv.co.za/revised-commercial-court-practice-directive/">"Revised Commercial Court Practice Directive"</a>. 3 June 2022<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">5 May</span> 2024</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&amp;rft.genre=unknown&amp;rft.btitle=Revised+Commercial+Court+Practice+Directive&amp;rft.date=2022-06-03&amp;rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fppv.co.za%2Frevised-commercial-court-practice-directive%2F&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACourts+of+South+Africa" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-sabinet-magistrate-criminal-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-sabinet-magistrate-criminal_2-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-sabinet-magistrate-criminal_2-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.sabinetlaw.co.za/justice-and-constitution/articles/new-fines-imposed-criminal-procedure-act">"New Fines Imposed for Criminal Procedure Act"</a>. Sabinet Law. 4 February 2013<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">11 June</span> 2014</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=article&amp;rft.atitle=New+Fines+Imposed+for+Criminal+Procedure+Act&amp;rft.date=2013-02-04&amp;rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sabinetlaw.co.za%2Fjustice-and-constitution%2Farticles%2Fnew-fines-imposed-criminal-procedure-act&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACourts+of+South+Africa" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-sabinet-magistrate-civil-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-sabinet-magistrate-civil_3-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-sabinet-magistrate-civil_3-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.sabinetlaw.co.za/justice-and-constitution/articles/new-limits-civil-actions-magistrates-courts">"New Limits for Civil Actions in Magistrates' Courts"</a>. Sabinet Law. 2 April 2014<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">11 June</span> 2014</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=article&amp;rft.atitle=New+Limits+for+Civil+Actions+in+Magistrates%27+Courts&amp;rft.date=2014-04-02&amp;rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sabinetlaw.co.za%2Fjustice-and-constitution%2Farticles%2Fnew-limits-civil-actions-magistrates-courts&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACourts+of+South+Africa" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div></div> <ul><li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.gov.za/about-government/government-system/justice-system/judicial-system">"Judicial system"</a>. <i>South African Government Information</i>. Government of South Africa<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">1 December</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=unknown&amp;rft.jtitle=South+African+Government+Information&amp;rft.atitle=Judicial+system&amp;rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.za%2Fabout-government%2Fgovernment-system%2Fjustice-system%2Fjudicial-system&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACourts+of+South+Africa" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110724221453/http://www.acclawyers.org/resources/south-africa/">"South African criminal court system"</a>. Association of Commonwealth Criminal Lawyers. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011<span class="reference-accessdate">. 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src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/Jo%27burg_High_Court.jpg/80px-Jo%27burg_High_Court.jpg" decoding="async" width="80" height="60" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/Jo%27burg_High_Court.jpg/120px-Jo%27burg_High_Court.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/Jo%27burg_High_Court.jpg/160px-Jo%27burg_High_Court.jpg 2x" data-file-width="800" data-file-height="600" /></a></span></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/High_Court_of_South_Africa" title="High Court of South Africa">High Court</a> divisions</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Eastern_Cape_Division" title="Eastern Cape Division">Eastern Cape</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Free_State_Division" title="Free State Division">Free State</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gauteng_Division" title="Gauteng Division">Gauteng</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/KwaZulu-Natal_Division" title="KwaZulu-Natal Division">KwaZulu-Natal</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Limpopo_Division" title="Limpopo Division">Limpopo</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mpumalanga_Division" title="Mpumalanga Division">Mpumalanga</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/North_West_Division_of_the_High_Court_of_South_Africa" title="North West Division of the High Court of South Africa">North West</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Northern_Cape_Division" title="Northern Cape Division">Northern Cape</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Western_Cape_Division" title="Western Cape Division">Western Cape</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Lower courts</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Regional_court_(South_Africa)&amp;action=edit&amp;redlink=1" class="new" title="Regional 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style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Labour_Court_of_South_Africa" title="Labour Court of South Africa">Labour Court</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Labour_Appeal_Court_of_South_Africa" title="Labour Appeal Court of South Africa">Labour Appeal Court</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Land_Claims_Court_of_South_Africa&amp;action=edit&amp;redlink=1" class="new" title="Land Claims Court of South Africa (page does not exist)">Land Claims Court</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Competition_Appeal_Court_of_South_Africa&amp;action=edit&amp;redlink=1" class="new" title="Competition Appeal Court of South Africa (page does not exist)">Competition Appeal Court</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Electoral_Court_of_South_Africa" title="Electoral Court of South Africa">Electoral Court</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow hlist" colspan="3"><div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Judiciary_of_South_Africa" title="Judiciary of South Africa">Judiciary of South Africa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Law_of_South_Africa" title="Law of South Africa">Law of South Africa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Department_of_Justice_and_Constitutional_Development" title="Department of Justice and Constitutional Development">Department of Justice and Constitutional Development</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Superior_Courts_Act,_2013" title="Superior Courts Act, 2013">Superior Courts Act, 2013</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <!-- NewPP limit report Parsed by mw‐web.eqiad.main‐958868bfc‐j9sq8 Cached time: 20241104173331 Cache expiry: 2592000 Reduced expiry: false Complications: [vary‐revision‐sha1, show‐toc] CPU time usage: 0.416 seconds Real time usage: 0.525 seconds Preprocessor visited node count: 957/1000000 Post‐expand include size: 55266/2097152 bytes Template argument size: 12694/2097152 bytes Highest expansion depth: 12/100 Expensive parser function count: 9/500 Unstrip recursion depth: 1/20 Unstrip post‐expand size: 38478/5000000 bytes Lua 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