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Rationalisation of Magisterial Districts

On 1 December 2014, the Rationalisation of Magisterial Districts project started to align the magisterial districts in the country with municipal boundaries. This process also ensures that more people have access to justice services at courts that are located closer to where they live.

What does the rationalisation project aim to do?

  1. Align the jurisdiction of magisterial districts with municipal boundaries. Through the rationalisation of courts project, magisterial boundaries drawn before 1994 are redrawn in accordance with the new democratic dispensation.
  2. Enable communities to access justice services closer to where they live and reduce travelling costs.

Why was it necessary to undertake the rationalisation project?

  1. Access to justice is a basic human right, provided for in the Constitution. The main aim of the process is to widen access to justice by having a court in every municipality and a seat of the High Court in every province.
  2. At a district level, the areas of jurisdiction of the Magistrates’ Courts will be the same as that of Municipalities to the extent that this is practical and possible.
  3. New courts will be built in areas of need and existing courts will be allocated adequate jurisdiction to respond to the needs of the communities they serve.

For example, in terms of the old magisterial boundaries, the Diepsloot community had to travel to the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court to access justice services which is a distance of ±40 kilometres away. With the rationalisation process, the Diepsloot community will now be serviced by the Randburg Magistrate’s Court which is about ± 15 kilometres.

Have there been consultations on this process?

Affected communities as well as the judiciary, prosecutors, police and municipalities were consulted.

How does the process affect justice services accessed by communities at courts?

  1. All new cases enrolled in provinces will be dealt with at the court that has been allocated to serve your community.
  2. All cases that were enrolled before 1 December 2014 and are pending will be dealt with at the courts where they originated.

Which services will be provided at the closest to where you live?

From 1 December 2014 communities will get the following services from courts near to them:

How will the process affect High Courts in your area?

The new magisterial districts will form the basis of new areas of jurisdiction of High Courts in all provinces.

How will I know which court to use?

The department has informed the affected communities on the changes to the magisterial districts. Maps showing the areas of jurisdiction of the new magisterial districts will be placed at all courts. If you are not sure, go to the local court or visit our "Find a Court" page for more information.

Downloads

Enquiries

Enquiries on this project can be directed to:
Mr Zacharia Makena Moagi
Secretary: Rationalisation Committee
Tel: 012 315 1767, E-mail: Rationalisation@justice.gov.za

Please DO NOT send emails relating to court hearings, court arrangements or maintenance payments to the Rationalisation@justice.gov.za email account! Contact the relevant Court regarding these issues.