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

Notices

Directions to address, prevent and combat the spread of COVID-19 in all Courts, Court Precincts and Justice Service Points in the Republic of South Africa under Adjusted Alert Level 3

4. Restriction of services and access to court room, court house or justice service point

 

(1) Access to a court room, court house or justice service point is subject to strict adherence to health protocols and social distancing measures including the mandatory wearing of a face mask as defined in regulation 34(1) of the Adjusted Alert Level 3 Regulations.

 

(2) Persons with a material interest in a case such as litigants, accused persons, legal practitioners, witnesses, or persons who may be needed to provide support to the litigant, accused persons and witnesses including family members and persons accompanying children, victims of domestic violence or sexual offences and persons with disabilities and member of the media are permitted to enter a court room, a court house or justice service point: Provided that in respect of a court room, the presiding judicial officer may direct that the number of persons in the court room be reduced to comply with safety measures and social distancing requirements.

 

(3) The number of persons allowed in a—
(a) public gallery of a court room;
(b) court house; or
(c) justice service point,

may be limited based on the floor space to ensure compliance with the requirement relating to social distancing measures.

 

(4) A person who has been in close contact with or has been exposed to, another person who has tested positive for COVID-19, except a person who has tested positive in the past but has recovered, or is still waiting for the test results following a COVID-19 test, may not be allowed to enter a court room, court house or justice service point, within 10 days of such contact or exposure.