Summary LLB 2 INTRODUCTION TO CIVIL PROCEDURE PART 1 INTRODUCTION TO THE LAW OF CIVIL PROCEDURE
CHAPTER 5: JURISDICTION OF THE HIGH COURTS
JURISDICTION OF THE MAGISTRATES’ COURTS
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO THE LAW OF CIVIL PROCEDURE
1 What is the law of civil procedure? ............................................................. 9
2 Civil law and criminal law .......................................................................... 9
3 Principles underlying the law of civil procedure ...................................... 11
4 Sources of the law of civil procedure ...................................................... 12
5 Institutions applying the law of civil procedure ........................................ 13
CHAPTER 2: STRUCTURE OF THE COURTS AND OFFICERS OF THE COURTS
1 Introduction ............................................................................................. 14
2 Hierarchy of the South African Courts .................................................... 15
2.1 The Constitutional Court ......................................................................... 15
2.2 The Supreme Court of Appeal ................................................................. 17
2.3 The High Courts ...................................................................................... 18
2.4 Magistrates’ Courts ................................................................................. 21
2.5 Courts of Chiefs and Headmen................................................................ 22
2.6 Small Claims Courts ................................................................................ 23
2.6.1 Introduction ............................................................................................. 23
2.6.2 Jurisdiction of the Small Claims Court .................................................... 23
2.6.3 Procedure in the Small Claims Courts .................................................... 25
2.6.4 Judgment and costs ............................................................................... 25
2.6.5 Review .................................................................................................... 26
3 Specialized courts ................................................................................... 27
3.1 Labour Courts ......................................................................................... 27
3.2 Land Claims Court................................................................................... 28
3.3 Special Income Tax Courts...................................................................... 28
3.4 Competition Appeal Court........................................................................ 28
3.5 Electoral Court ........................................................................................ 29
3.6 Special Consumer Court ......................................................................... 29
3.7 Divorce Courts ........................................................................................ 29
3.8 Children’s Courts ..................................................................................... 30
3.9 Maintenance Courts ................................................................................ 30
3.10 Equality Courts ........................................................................................ 31
4 Officers of the court .............................................................................. 31
4.1 Judges .................................................................................................... 31
4.2 Magistrates ............................................................................................. 31
4.3 Registrars of the High Court .................................................................... 32
4.4 Court Managers ………………………………………………………………31
4.5 Clerks and Registrars of the Magistrates Courts ...................................... 32
4.6 The Sheriff .............................................................................................. 32
4.7 The Master of the High Court................................................................... 33
4.8 Legal Practitioners................................................................................... 33
, 3
CHAPTER 3: CONSULTATION, LEGAL REPRESENTATION, DEMAND AND
PRESCRIPTION
1 The initial consultation ............................................................................ 35
2 The representation of parties .................................................................. 37
2.1 Representation in the High Court ........................................................... 38
2.2 Representation in the Magistrates’ Courts .............................................. 39
3 The action and application procedure ..................................................... 40
4 Demand .................................................................................................. 42
5 Prescription and time-limitations statutes ............................................... 44
5.1 General ................................................................................................... 44
5.2 The Prescription Act ............................................................................... 45
5.3 Legal Proceedings Against Organs of State Act ..................................... 46
5.4 Road Accident Fund Act ......................................................................... 47
5.5 Apportionment of Damages Act .............................................................. 48
6 Superannuation ...................................................................................... 48
6.1 Superannuation of judgments ................................................................. 48
6.2 Superanuation of summons .................................................................... 45
CHAPTER 4: JURISDICTION – THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES
1 Introduction ............................................................................................. 49
2 General principles................................................................................... 50
2.1 The principle of ‘actor sequitur forum rei’ ................................................ 50
2.2 The principle of effectiveness ................................................................. 51
2.3 The principle of convenience .................................................................. 52
2.4 The principle of consent (prorogation) .................................................... 52
3 Legal terminology ................................................................................... 53
3.1 Incola ...................................................................................................... 53
3.2 Peregrinus .............................................................................................. 53
3.3 Local peregrinus ..................................................................................... 54
3.4 Foreign peregrinus ................................................................................. 54
4 The meaning of ‘domiciled’ and ‘resident’ ............................................... 54
4.1 Natural persons ...................................................................................... 54
4.2 Juristic persons....................................................................................... 55
4.2.1 Principal place of business ..................................................................... 55
4.2.2 Registered office..................................................................................... 56
4.2.3 Where the corporation conducts business .............................................. 56
4.3 Foreign juristic persons .......................................................................... 57
4.4 Partnerships ........................................................................................... 57
4.5 The state................................................................................................. 57
5 Inherent and prescribed jurisdiction ........................................................ 58
6 General limitations on jurisdiction ........................................................... 58
7 Specific jurisdictional provisions ............................................................. 59
7.1 Insolvency Act ........................................................................................ 59
7.2 Companies Act ....................................................................................... 60
7.3 Close Corporations Act ........................................................................... 60
, 4
CHAPTER 5: JURISDICTION OF THE HIGH COURTS
1 Introduction ............................................................................................. 61
1.1 The inherent jurisdiction of the high court ............................................... 61
1.2 ‘Inherent’ and ‘innate jurisdiction’............................................................ 62
1.3 Power to regulate its own procedure ...................................................... 62
1.4 Power to adjudicate non-procedural matters .......................................... 63
2 Jurisdiction with regard to the value of the claim .................................... 63
2.1 No limitation with regard to value............................................................ 63
2.2 The discretion regarding costs................................................................ 63
2.3 Removal of a matter to the magistrate’s court ........................................ 64
3 Jurisdiction with regard to the type of claim ............................................ 64
4 Jurisdiction with regard to territory .......................................................... 65
4.1 The various divisions of the high court ................................................... 65
4.2 S 21(1) of the Superior Courts Act.......................................................... 65
4.3 The common law rule in general terms ................................................... 66
4.3.1 The existence of a ‘link’ or a ‘ratio jurisdictionis’ ..................................... 66
4.3.2 Considerations of effectiveness .............................................................. 67
4.4 The rule in more specific terms............................................................... 67
4.5 Jurisdiction in divorce actions ................................................................. 67
4.5.1 The common law position ....................................................................... 67
4.5.2 The divorce act ....................................................................................... 68
4.5.3 The term ‘domiciled’ ............................................................................... 68
4.5.4 The term ‘ordinarily resident’ .................................................................. 68
4.5.5 The definition of ‘divorce action’ ............................................................. 68
4.6 Proceedings relating to property ............................................................. 69
4.6.1 Immovable property ................................................................................ 69
4.6.2 Movable property .................................................................................... 70
4.6.3 Incorporeal property ............................................................................... 71
4.7 Proceedings in which a money judgment is claimed .............................. 71
4.7.1 The rules regarding attachment .............................................................. 71
4.7.2 Miscellaneous issues relating to attachment .......................................... 77
4.7.3 The doctrine of submission ..................................................................... 79
4.7.4 Timing of submission .............................................................................. 81
5 Concurrent jurisdiction ............................................................................ 82
6 Jurisdiction for the purposes of counterclaims ........................................ 82
7 The ‘causae continentia’ doctrine ........................................................... 83
8 Removal of a matter to another division ................................................. 84
CHAPTER 6: JURISDICTION OF THE MAGISTRATES’ COURTS
1 Introduction ............................................................................................. 85
2 Jurisdiction with regard to the type of claim ............................................ 87
2.1 Matters excluded in terms of s 46 ........................................................... 87
2.1.1 Decrees of perpetual silence .................................................................. 88
2.1.2 Claims for ‘specific performance’ ............................................................ 88
2.2 Matters which may be adjudicated in terms of s 29 ................................ 90
3 Jurisdiction with regard to the value of claim .......................................... 92
4 Jurisdiction with regard to territory .......................................................... 93
5 Example of the application of the above principles ................................. 96
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through EFT, credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying this summary from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller Courtneyy. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy this summary for R80,00. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.