I, Andries Carl Nel, Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, acting under the power delegated to me by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development under section 2(1 ) (e) of the Small Claims Courts Act, 1984 (Act No. 61 of 1984), have approved that Protea in the area of Soweto, be declared as an additional place for the holding of sessions of the Johannesburg Small Claims Court, in addition to Johannesburg.
The Small Claims Court for the area of Johannesburg will, therefore, have an additional place for the holding of sessions of the said court and this will greatly enhance access to justice for the people of Soweto. A notice in this regard will appear in the Government Gazette in the near future.
The functioning of the additional place for the holding of sessions will commence as soon as possible. The designation of additional places for the holding of sessions of the Small Claims Court for this area in Soweto is a further step towards the overall strategic objective of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development of expanding access to justice for all communities by providing for their small claims to be settled in an informal, affordable and effective manner.
Small Claims Courts deal with small claims matters of up to R12 000.00. Members of the public present their cases before a commissioner (which are drawn from the pool of professional persons mandated in the legislation with experience of civil matters, such as attorneys, advocates or law academics) who is appointed by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development to preside over small claims matters.
Members of the public can access this court without any financial burden except for the sheriff's fee(s) for the service of any court process that may be required. Only natural persons may institute an action as a plaintiff in the Small Claims Courts. Legal representatives are not allowed in Small Claims Courts.
Any enquiries about the Johannesburg Small Claims Court can be directed to Mr P A Koen, the Chairperson of the Advisory Board for the Small Claims Court for the area of Johannesburg at 011 491 5000.
Enquiries:
Phumla Sekhonyane
Cell: 079 528 4661
Tel: 012 357 8234
