Gauteng High Court seeks input on draft directive to address civil court backlog

THE Gauteng Division of the High Court, in a draft directive, is calling for the input of law bodies, practitioners, and litigants in general, for comment and suggestions on plans by this division to alleviate the congested civil court roll.

- ZELDA VENTER

The Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ) explained that the directive is aimed at alleviating the backlogs and constraints that currently plague the division's Civil Court roll, which at present has trial dates issued as far ahead as 2031.

This situation is untenable and infringes on the right to access to courts as guaranteed by Section 34 of the Constitution. The effect of the presence of these matters on the trial roll prejudices matters that genuinely deserve judicial attention by means of a trial, the OCJ said.