South African Courts Explained

We hear a lot about the different South African courts in the media but for most people, the actual structure of the courts may be something of a mystery.

Here we offer a straightforward guide to the country’s different courts, along with an explanation of which courts may be involved in hearing personal injury claims.

South African courts

The following diagram shows the main types of courts and court levels in South Africa:

Small Claims Court

Small Claims Courts deal with any civil matter where the claim is for less than R15 000. Typically these claims involve individuals rather than companies or corporations. Examples of matters that can be taken to a Small Claims Court include:

• claiming goods that are due to you or monies owed
• claiming damages
• claims based on violations of legal agreements or documents.

Magistrates’ Courts

Magistrates’ Courts are at the lower level in South Africa’s system of courts. They’re divided into district and regional courts.

District courts hear civil matters and less serious criminal cases, involving offences other than rape, murder or treason. They can impose fines of up to R120 000 and prison sentences of up to 3 years.

Regional courts may also hear civil matters and can deal with criminal cases involving any offence except treason. They can also hear divorce cases. A regional Magistrate’s Court can impose fines of up to R600 000 and hand down prison sentences of up to 15 years.

High Courts

There are ten provincial and three local High Courts, each presiding over a different jurisdiction, in South Africa. These courts hear cases that can’t be handled by the Magistrates’ Courts.

Circuit courts are also part of the High Court system. They move around the country in order to serve more rural areas.

Supreme Court of Appeal

The Supreme Court of Appeal deals exclusively with appeals against rulings. No other court, except for the Constitutional Court, can change a decision made by the Supreme Court of Appeal.

Constitutional Court

The Constitutional Court is the highest court in the land and deals with constitutional matters. It hears appeals that relate to the Constitution only after a judgement has already been handed down. All other appeals go to the Supreme Court of Appeals. No other court can overturn a ruling made by the Constitutional Court.

Specialist courts

A number of specialist courts have been established by Parliament to deal with matters in specific areas of law. These include the Labour Court, Land Claims Court, Electoral Court and Tax Courts.

All except the Tax Courts have a status similar to the High Courts. The Tax Courts deal specifically with disputes between SARS and taxpayers.

Military courts

The military courts deal exclusively with cases involving members of the South African National Defence Force, who are subject to the Military Discipline Code. They deal with serious offences that can’t be handled by a commanding officer.

Which South African courts hear personal injury cases?

The value of a personal injury claim helps determine which court will deal with it. Magistrates’ Courts can hear a case only where the value of the claim is less than R400 000. If the value is expected to be greater than this, a personal injury case will be heard by a High Court.

Any appeal against a ruling by a Magistrate’s Court will proceed to a High Court. Appeals against rulings made by High Courts are either heard by a Full Bench of that division (meaning a panel of 3 Judges), alternatively in certain circumstances by the Supreme Court of Appeal.