Divorce now less costly and easier through the Magistrate’s Courts
The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has amended the Magistrate’s Courts Act of 1944 giving powers to Regional Courts to now deal with divorce cases as well. President Jacob Zuma announced the commencement of the Jurisdiction of Regional Courts Amendment Act which came into effect on 9th August 2010, the National Woman’s Day. The Regional Courts were established in 1952 to deal with divorces, serious criminal offences and mete out harsher penalties. The amendments increase access to justice to members of the public, in particular, women and children who go to courts daily for the resolution of family related disputes relating to divorce; maintenance; adoption; and matters relating to custody of minor children.
These amendments are good news for people utilising the eDivorce process, a DIY online divorce service at http://www.edivorce.co.za for the mere reason that it offers parties in a divorce action the opportunity to conclude their divorce in their area of residence, faster and with wider access to the courts. Previously divorces in South Africa were handled by just a few Family Courts and the High Court and through the implementation of the new system; it will be not only more cost effective but also quicker as a result of the spread in the workload.
BENEFITS OF THE AMENDMENT
Reduced time of finalisation of cases:
- There are now 62 more Regional courts to deal with same workload that the 3 former divorce courts.
- This will assist in reducing case backlogs both at the High Courts and Magistrates Courts.
Reduced Costs:
- Proceedings in the High Courts are complex to the extent that attorneys and advocates are usually instructed resulting in high litigation costs.
- Regional courts have a reduced scale of costs in relation to the High Court, and simplified proceedings which include the use of mediation in resolving civil disputes.
- Registrars and assistant registrars appointed at each regional court to provide assistance to member of the public.
The Courts are located in the diagram below:
Province | New seat of civilRegional Court | Areas in respect of which the civil Regional Court has jurisdiction |
Eastern
Cape |
East London | East London, Komgha and Mdantsane |
Grahamstown | Albany, Adelaide, Alexandria, Bathurst, Bedford and Somerset East. | |
Graaff-Reinet | Graaff-Reinet, Aberdeen, Cradock, Hofmeyr, Jansenville, Middelburg, Pearston and Willowmore. | |
King William’sTown | King William’s Town, Cathcart, Fort Beaufort, Keiskammahoek, Middledrift, Peddie, Stutterheim, Victoria East andZwelitsha. | |
Mthatha | Umtata, Bizana, Butterworth (Gcuwa), Elliot, Elliotdale (Xhora), Engcobo, Flagstaff (Siphaqeni) , Idutywa, Kentani (Centane), Libode, Lusikisiki, Maclear, Matatiele, Mount Ayliff (Maxesibeni), Mount Fletcher, Mount Frere (Kwabacha) , Mqanduli, Nqamakwe, Ngqeleni, Port St Johns (Umzimvubu), Qumbu, Tabankulu, Tsolo, Tsomo and Willowvale (Gatyana) | |
Port Elizabeth | Port Elizabeth, Kirkwood, Motherwell and Uitenhage. | |
Queenstown | Queenstown, Albert, Aliwal North, Barkley East, Glen Grey (Cacadu) (Lady Frere), Herschel, Hewu, Indwe, Lady Grey, Mo;teno, Mpofu (Seymor) (Stockentrom), Ntabethemba, Sterkstroom, Steynsburg, St Marks (Cofimvaba), Tarka, Venterstad, Wodehouse and Xalanga (Cala). | |
Humansdorp | Humansdorp, Hankey, Joubertina, and Steytlerville. | |
Free State | Bethlehem | Bethlehem, Ficksburg, Fouriesburg, Frankfort, Harrismith, Lindley, Reitz, Senekal, Villiers, Vrede and Witsieshoek. |
Bloemfontein | Bloemfontein , Bethulie, Boshof, Botshabelo, Brandfort, Clocolan, Dewetsdorp, Edenburg, Excelsior , Fauresmith, Jacobsdal, Jagersfontein, Koffirfontein, Ladybrand, Marquard, Petrusburg, Philippolis, Reddersburg, Rouxville, Smithfield, Trompsburg, Thaba Nchu, Wepener and Zastron | |
Kroonstad | Kroonstad, Heilbron, Koppies, Parys, Sasolburg, Viljoenskroon and Vredefort. | |
Welkom | Welkom, Bothaville, Bultfontein, Hennenman, Hoopstad, Odendaalsrus, Theunissen, Ventersburg, Virginia, Wesselsbron and Winburg. | |
Gauteng | Ekangala | Ekangala, Bronkhorstspruit and Cullinan. |
Johannesburg | Johannesburg. [Can also go to Kliptown Regional Court] | |
Kempton Park | Kempton Park, Benoni, Boksburg, Daveyton and Tembisa. | |
Kliptown (Canalso go to Johannesburg
Regional Court) |
Armadale, Chiawelo, Comptonville, Devland, Dhlamini, Diepkloof, Dobsonville, Dobsonville Gardens, Doornkop, Dube, Emdeni, Jabavu, Jabavu Central Western, Jabulani, Klipriviersoog, Klipspruit, Klipspruit West, Lenaron, A.H., Lougherin A.H., Lufhereng, Mapetla, Meadowlands, Meredale, Mofolo Central, Mofolo North, Mofolo South, Molapo, Moletsane, Moroka, Moroka North, Naledi, Naturena, Nomzamo, Noordgesig, Orlando, Orlando East, Orlando Ekhaya, Orlando West, Phiri, Pimville Ext & Zones, Power Park, Protea City, Protea Glen, Protea North, Protea North Ext.1, Protea North Ext.9, Protea South Ext.1, Racecourse, Riversdale, Senaoane, Stesa A.H, Slovoville, Slovoville Ext.1, Tladi, Zola, Zola Ext.1 and Zondi. | |
Oberholzer | Oberholzer and Westonaria. | |
Pretoria | Pretoria, Atteridgeville, Mamelodi, Soshanguve and Wonderboom. | |
Randburg | Randburg and Alexandra. | |
Roodepoort | Roodepoort, Krugersdorp and Randfontein. | |
Germiston | Germiston and Alberton. | |
Vereeniging | Vereeniging, Meyerton and Vanderbijlpark. | |
Springs | Springs, Brakpan, Heidelberg and Nigel. | |
KwaZulu-Natal | Durban | Durban, Chatsworth, Inanda, Lower Tugela, Ndwedwe, Pinetown, Umbumbulu, Umlazi and Ntuzuma. |
Empangeni | Empangeni (Lower Umfolozi), Eshowe, Hlabisa, Kranskop, Mahlabatini, Mapumulo, Mtonjaneni,Mtunzini and Nkandhla. | |
Newcastle | Newcastle, Dannhauser, Dundee, Estcourt, Glencoe, Klip River, Madadeni, Msinga, Utrecht and Weenen. | |
Vryheid | Vryheid, Babanango, Ingwavuma, Ngotshe, Nongoma, Nqutu, Paulpietersburg, Piet Retief and Ubombo. | |
Pietermaritzburg | Pietermaritzburg, Bergville, Camperdown, Impendle, Lion’s River, Mooi River, New Hanover, Polela, Richmond, Umvoti and Underberg. | |
Port Shepstone | Port Shepstone, Alfred, Ixopo, Mount Currie, Umzimkulu and Umzinto. | |
Limpopo | Giyani | Giyani, Bolobedu, Malamulele, Sekgosese, Tshitale and Vuwani. |
Lebowakgomo | Thabamoopo. | |
Sekhukhune | Sekhukhuneland, Nebo and Praktiseer | |
Modimolle | Waterberg, Ellisras, Northam, Phalala, Thabazimbi and Warmbaths. | |
Polokwane | Pietersburg, Bochum, Mankweng, Mokerong, Potgietersrus and Seshego. | |
Tzaneen | Letaba, Lulekani, Namakgale, Naphuno, Ritavi and Phalaborwa. | |
Thohoyandou | Thohoyandou, Dzanani, Hlanganani, Messina, Mutale, Sibasa, Soutpansberg, Tiyani and Tshilwavhisiku. | |
Mpumalanga | Eerstehoek (Elukwatini) | Eerstehoek, Carolina, Ermelo, Piet Retief and Wakkerstroom. |
Evander | Highveld Ridge, Amersfoort, Balfour, Bethal, Delmas, Standerton and Volksrust. | |
KwaMhlanga | Kwamhlanga, Mathanjana, Mbibana, Mdutjana and Mkobola. | |
Middelburg | Middelburg, Groblersdal, Kriel, Moutse and Witbank. | |
Mbombela | Nelspruit, Barberton, Belfast, Lydenburg, Mapulaneng, Mhala, Nkomazi, Nsikazi, Pilgrim’s Rest, Waterval-Boven and White River. | |
Northern Cape | De Aar | De Aar, Britstown, Carnarvon, Colesberg, Hanover, Noupoort, Philipstown, Richmond and Victoria West. |
Kimberley | Kimberley, Barkly West, Hartswater, Douglas, Hopetown, Jan Kempdorp and Warrenton. | |
Springbok | Calvinia, Fraserburg, Garies, Namaqualand, Port Nolloth, Sutherland and Williston. | |
Upington | Gordonia, Groblershoop, Hay, Kakamas, Kathu, Keimoes, Kenhardt, Kuruman, Olifantshoek, Pofadder, Postmasburg and Prieska. | |
North West | Brits | Brits and Warmbaths. |
Ga-Rankuwa | Odi and Pretoria. | |
Klerksdorp | Klerksdorp, Bloemhof, Christiana, Schweizer-Reneke and Wolmaransstad. | |
Mmabatho | Molopo (Mafikeng), Atamelang, Ditsobotla, Mafeking, Lehurutshe, Lichtenburg, Mafeking, Ottosdal and Zeerust | |
Potchefstroom | Potchefstroom, Coligny and Ventersdorp. | |
Rustenburg | Rustenburg, Bafokeng, Koster, Madikwe, Mankwe, Marico and Swartruggens. | |
Temba | Moretele | |
Vryburg | Vryburg, Delareyville, Ganyesa, Kudumane (Tlhaping-Tlharo), Kuruman and Taung. | |
Western Cape | Atlantis | Atlantis, Clanwilliam, Hopefield, Malmesbury, Moorreesburg, Piketberg, Van Rhynsdorp, Vredenburg and Vredendal. |
Bellville | Bellville, Bluedowns and Kuils River. | |
Cape Town | Cape and Goodwood. | |
George | George, Heidelberg, Knysna, Mossel Bay, Riversdale, Thembaletu and Uniondale. | |
Mitchells Plain | Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha. | |
Oudtshoorn | Oudtshoorn, Beaufort West, Calitzdorp, Ladismith, Murraysburg and Prince Albert. | |
Somerset West | Somerset West, Bredasdorp, Caledon, Grabouw, Hermanus, Paarl, Stellenbosch, Strand,Tulbagh, Wellington and Wolseley. | |
Worcester | Worcester, Bonnievale, Ceres, Laingsburg, Montagu, Robertson and Swellendam. | |
Wynberg | Wynberg, Athlone, Phillipi and Simon’s Town. |
Compiled by Bertus Preller
Family Law Attorney
Bertus Preller & Associates Inc.
Hello I live in kempton park I need I divorce me and my spouse have been seperated for 5 years I don’t know were he is and we have a dauter of 5years old I met someone else and want to start a new life with him please tell me what can I do to get the divorce thru fast and easy and cheap at the moment I live by my parents work at a daycare and don’t get a lot of money please can you help