Covid-19 crisis: Chief Justice issues new directive

The Office of the Chief Justice has gazetted a new directive on the management of courts during the Covid-19 State of Disaster – repealing one issued on 17 April, reports Pam Saxby for Legalbrief Policy Watch. The 19 March directive is still in force – dealing with access to court precincts and the use of audio-visual facilities and ‘other electronic communication means’ in specific circumstances. The new directive follows one gazetted on Monday by Justice & Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola, replacing his 31 March directive on combating the spread of Covid-19 in SA’s courts, their precincts and all other justice service points.

Applicable ‘for the remainder of the national State of Disaster period’, among other things the latest directive from the Office of the Chief Justice allows a Head of Court to determine how to deal with and dispose of ‘criminal trials already set down for hearing during the … State of Disaster’. Other matters addressed include the procedures to be followed when re-enrolling a civil trial removed from the roll during the State of Disaster; and when attending to unopposed applications already enrolled for hearing during that period. The new directive also deals with opposed applications; applications for leave to appeal; appeals; and judicial case flow management.