CIV3701 Introduction to Civil
Procedure Notes 2022.
, 1
INTRODUCTION TO CIVIL PROCEDURE
PART 1
2022
, 2
INTRODUCTION TO CIVIL PROCEDURE
PART 1
LIST OF CONTENTS
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
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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 .............................................. 40
3 The action and application procedure ..................................................... 41
4 Demand .................................................................................................. 42
5 Prescription and time-limitations statutes ............................................... 45
5.1 General ................................................................................................... 45
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
CHAPTER 4: JURISDICTION – THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES
1 Introduction ............................................................................................. 50
2 General principles ................................................................................... 51
2.1 The principle of ‘actor sequitur forum rei’ ................................................ 51
2.2 The principle of effectiveness ................................................................. 52
2.3 The principle of convenience .................................................................. 53
2.4 The principle of consent (prorogation) .................................................... 53
3 Legal terminology ................................................................................... 54
3.1 Incola ...................................................................................................... 54
3.2 Peregrinus .............................................................................................. 54
3.3 Local peregrinus ..................................................................................... 55
3.4 Foreign peregrinus ................................................................................. 55
4 The meaning of ‘domiciled’ and ‘resident’ ............................................... 55
4.1 Natural persons ...................................................................................... 55
4.2 Juristic persons ....................................................................................... 56
4.2.1 Principal place of business ..................................................................... 56
4.2.2 Registered office ..................................................................................... 57
4.2.3 Where the corporation conducts business .............................................. 57
4.3 Foreign juristic persons .......................................................................... 58
4.4 Partnerships ........................................................................................... 58
4.5 The state................................................................................................. 58
5 Inherent and prescribed jurisdiction ........................................................ 59
6 General limitations on jurisdiction ........................................................... 59
7 Specific jurisdictional provisions ............................................................. 60
7.1 Insolvency Act ........................................................................................ 60
7.2 Companies Act ....................................................................................... 61
7.3 Close Corporations Act ........................................................................... 61
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