Covid-19 crisis: Courts, justice service points directive replaced

Justice & Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola has replaced his 31 March directive on combating the spread of Covid-19 in SA’s courts, their precincts and all other justice service points, reports Pam Saxby for Legalbrief Policy Watch. Gazetted yesterday, the new directive should be read with those ‘issued from time to time by the Chief Justice and Heads of Court’ – as well as ‘any’ directive issued by the chair of the commission of inquiry into allegations of state capture, corruption and fraud in the public sector. This is noting that, in terms of the latest disaster management regulations, the ‘state capture commission’ features in the list of government and administration services deemed essential under lockdown level four. Further, according to sub-paragraph 2(b), any conduct authorised under the withdrawn 31 March directive ‘remains valid’ – along with ‘any investigation, prosecution or any criminal or legal proceedings’ in pursuance of it.

Obvious changes include the addition of sections on foreign language interpreters and dispute resolution – and the removal of sections on family law services and those provided by the Offices of the Master. The requirements to be met before being issued with a permit ‘to perform … services’ appear to be less onerous.