1 - Introduction 2022.docx

**Civil Procedure as a body of law** - - - - - - **Payment of damages** - **Specific performance (in terms of a contract)** - **Interdict (do/refrain from doing something)** - **ejectment** - **sequestration** - **divorce** - 2. **The Courts** *...

**Civil Procedure as a body of law** - - - - - - **Payment of damages** - **Specific performance (in terms of a contract)** - **Interdict (do/refrain from doing something)** - **ejectment** - **sequestration** - **divorce** - 2. **The Courts** **2.1 District and Regional Magistrates' Courts** - **2.2.1 High Courts (old Supreme Courts)** - - - **Provincial Divisions** - **Cape Provincial Division (Cape Town)** - **Eastern Cape Division (Grahamstown)** - **Northern Cape Division (Kimberley)** - **Natal Provincial Division (Pietermaritzburg)** - **Orange Free State Provincial Division (Bloemfontein)** - **Transvaal Provincial Division (Pretoria)** - **Former TBVC States:** - **Transkei General Division** - **Boputhatswana General Division** - **Ciskei General Division** - **Venda Supreme Court** - **Local Divisions** - **Durban & Coast Local Division (Durban)** - **Witwatersrand Local Division (Johannesburg)** - **South-Eastern Cape Local Division (Port Elizabeth)** 2.2.2 **This was changed to one uniform High Court with several branches to incorporate the new nine provinces and the former TBVC "states" by the Renaming of High Courts Act 30 of 2009** - **Eastern Cape HC, Bisho ECB** - **Eastern Cape HC, Grahamstown ECG** - **Eastern Cape HC, Port Elizabeth ECP** - **Eastern Cape HC, Mthatha, ECM** - **Free State HC, Bloemfontein FB** - **KwaZulu-Natal HC, Durban KZD** - **KwaZulu-Natal HC, Pietermaritzburg KZP** - **Limpopo HC, Thohoyandou, LT** - **Northern Cape HC, Kimberley, NCK** - **Northern Gauteng HC, Pretoria GNP** - **North West HC, Mafikeng NWM** - **Southern Gauteng HC, Johannesburg GSJ** - **Western Cape HC, Cape Town WCC** **2.2.3 This was changed yet again to a position almost identical to the original position with a system of provincial and local divisions, by the Superior Courts Act 10 of 2013.** - **Eastern Cape Division, Grahamstown ECG** - **Free State Division, Bloemfontein FB** - **Gauteng Division, Pretoria GNP** - **KwaZulu-Natal Division, Pietermaritzburg KZP** - **Limpopo Division, Polokwane, LP (not yet in place)** - **Mpumalanga Division, Nelspruit, MN** - **Northern Cape Division, Kimberley, NCK** - **North West Division, Mahikeng, NWM** - **Western Cape Division, Cape Town WCC** **Local Divisions** - **Eastern Cape Local Division, Bisho ECB** - **Eastern Cape Local Division, Mthatha, ECM** - **Eastern Cape Local Division, Port Elizabeth ECP** - **KwaZulu-Natal Local Division, Durban KZD** - **Limpopo Local Division, Thohoyandou, LT (not yet in place)** - **Gauteng Local Division, Johannesburg GSJ** 3. **Supreme Court of Appeals (Bloemfontein)** - **Jurisdiction over whole of SA in appeal matters** 4. **Constitutional Court (Johannesburg)** - **Final court of appeal for constitutional issues & now for all issues** - 3. **Officials** - **[Constitutional Court]** - - - - - **[SCA]:** - **President (P) & Deputy president (DP)** - **Judges of appeal (JA)** - **[High Court]:** - **President of Provincial High Court: Judge President (JP)** - **Presiding officer: judge (J)** - **In court: "my lord/my lady" or "Justice Smith"** - **In chambers/informal events: "judge"** - - **[Magistrates' Court:]** - **Presiding officer: magistrate** - **In court: "your worship"** - **Out of court: "Mr./Mrs./Ms Smith"** - **Administrative head of the High Court: the Registrar** - **Administrative officials of the District Magistrates' Court: Clerk of the Court** - **Administrative officials of the Regional Magistrates' Court: Registrar** - **Official who adjudicates on bills of costs: taxing master** - 4. **Sources of law** - - - - - - **Rules boards amend the rules on a regular basis** - **Acts can only be amended by Parliament** - **Forms and precedents of legal documents** 5. **General overview** 1. **Preliminary Questions** - **Does your client have a valid cause of action in substantive law?** - **Does your client have the necessary *locus standi* & capacity*?*** - **Which court has jurisdiction to hear the matter?** 2. **Pre-Litigation issues** - **Letters of demand** - **Calculating legal time limits (laws of prescription & court rules)** - **Serving legal documents** - **Deciding whether to proceed by way of action or application** 3. **Approaching a court of 1^st^ instance:** - **Application:** - - - - **Action:** - **Pleadings stage (documents exchanged to narrow issues)** - **Pre-trial stage (preparation for trial)** - **Trial (lead & cross examine oral evidence)** - **Judgment** **5.4 Once a matter has been in the Court a quo:** - **Review: procedural irregularity** - **Appeal: finding of law or fact disputed** 5. **Debt Collection procedures** - - **Section 65 (financial enquiry)** - **Administration order (sequestration of debtor)** 6. **Special cases/ additional procedures** - **Settlement** - **Provisional sentence procedure** - **Emergency relief before judgment** - **Arrest *tamquam suspectus de fuga*** - **Multiple parties** - **Interdicts** - - **Declaration of rights & stated cases** **[LEARNING OUTCOMES]** 1. **Civil Procedure as a body of law** - **Explain the place that Civil Procedure occupies in relation to substantive law and criminal law** - **Describe the standard of proof is required of a plaintiff, and what orders a civil court might hand down** 2. **The Courts** - **Explain the existing court structure, the court names and their locations** 3. **Officials** - **Demonstrate a knowledge of the official titles given to the various presiding officers & other court officials, and their forms of address** 4. **Sources of law** - **Identify the key sources of law for Civil Procedure**