Judicial Matters Amendment Bill, 2013

JUDICIAL MATTERS AMENDMENT BILL, 2013

COPIES OF SECTIONS OF CURRENT ACTS TO BE AMENDED BY THE BILL

1. Clause 1 amends section 29 of the Magistrates’ Courts Act, 1944 (Act 32 of 1944).

29.Jurisdiction in respect of causes of action

(1)Subject to the provisions of this Act and the National Credit Act, 2005 (Act No. 34 of 2005), a court in respect of causes of action, shall have jurisdiction in—

(a) actions in which is claimed the delivery or transfer of any property, movable or immovable, not exceeding in value the amount determined by the Minister from time to time by notice in the Gazette;

(b) actions of ejectment against the occupier of any premises or land within the district or regional division: Provided that, where the right of occupation of any such premises or land is in dispute between the parties, such right does not exceed the amount determined by the Minister from time to time by notice in the Gazette in clear value to the occupier;

(d) actions on or arising out of a liquid document or a mortgage bond, where the claim does not exceed the amount determined by the Minister from time to time by notice in the Gazette;

(e) actions on or arising out of any credit agreement as defined in section 1 of the National Credit Act, 2005 (Act No. 34 of 2005);

(f) actions in terms of section 16(1) of the Matrimonial Property Act, 1984 (Act No. 88 of 1984),where the claim or the value of the property in dispute does not exceed the amount determined by the Minister from time to time by notice in the Gazette;

(fA) actions, including an application for liquidation, in terms of the Close Corporations Act, 1984 (Act No. 69 of 1984);

(g) actions other than those already mentioned in this section, where the claim or the value of the matter in dispute does not exceed the amount determined by the Minister from time to time by notice in the Gazette.

(1A)The Minister may determine different amounts contemplated in subsection (1)(a), (b), (d), (e), (f) and (g) in respect of courts for districts and courts for regional divisions.

(1B)(a)A court for a regional division, in respect of causes of action, shall, subject to section 28(1A), have jurisdiction to hear and determine suits relating to the nullity of a marriage or a civil union and relating to divorce between persons and to decide upon any question arising therefrom, and to hear any matter and grant any order provided for in terms of the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act, 1998 (Act No. 120 of 1998).

(b)A court for a regional division hearing a matter referred to in paragraph (a) shall have the same jurisdiction as any High Court in relation to such a matter.

(c)The presiding officer of a court for a regional division hearing a matter referred to in paragraph (a) may, in his or her discretion, summon to his or her assistance two persons to sit and act as assessors in an advisory capacity on questions of fact.

(d)Any person who has been appointed as a Family Advocate or Family Counsellor under the Mediation in Certain Divorce Matters Act, 1987 (Act No. 24 of 1987), shall be deemed to have also been appointed in respect of any court for a regional division having jurisdiction in the area for which he or she has been so appointed.

(1C)Jurisdiction conferred on a court for a regional division in terms of this section shall be subject to a notice having been issued under section 2(1)(iA) in respect of the place for the holding, and the extent of the civil adjudication, of such court.

(2)In subsection (1) “action” includes a claim in reconvention.

[S.29 amended by s.13 of Act No. 40 of 1952, by s.39 of Act No. 68 of 1957, by s.3 of Act No. 19 of 1963 and by s.10 of Act No. 53 of 1970, substituted by s.27 of Act No. 94 of 1974, amended by s. 1 of Act No. 56 of 1984 and by s. 35 of Act No. 88 of 1984, substituted by s. 3 of Act No. 25 of 1987, amended by s. 2 of Act No. 157 of 1993 and by s. 172 (2) of Act No. 34 of 2005 and substituted by s. 7 of Act No. 31 of 2008.]

29 Jurisdiksie ten aansien van skuldoorsake

(1) Behoudens die bepalings van hierdie Wet en die "National Credit Act, 2005" (Wet 34 van 2005), het 'n hof, ten aansien van skuldoorsake, jurisdiksie in-

(a) aksies tot lewering of oordrag van roerende of onroerende goed waarvan die waarde nie die bedrag wat die Minister van tyd tot tyd by kennisgewing in die Staatskoerant bepaal, te bowe gaan nie;

(b) aksies tot uitsetting teen die okkupeerder van 'n perseel of grond binne die distrik of streekafdeling geleë: Met dien verstande dat, waar die reg tot okkupasie van die perseel of grond tussen die partye in geskil is, die suiwer waarde van daardie reg vir die okkupeerder nie die bedrag wat die Minister van tyd tot tyd by kennisgewing in die Staatskoerant bepaal, te bowe gaan nie;

(d) aksies gebaseer op of wat ontstaan uit 'n likwiede dokument of 'n verband waar die vordering nie die bedrag wat die Minister van tyd tot tyd by kennisgewing in die Staatskoerant bepaal, te bowe gaan nie;

(e) aksies gebaseer op of wat ontstaan uit 'n kredietooreenkoms soos omskryf in artikel 1 van die "National Credit Act, 2005" (Wet 34 van 2005), waar die vordering of die waarde van die goed in geskil nie die bedrag wat die Minister van tyd tot tyd by kennisgewing in die Staatskoerant bepaal, te bowe gaan nie;

(f) aksies ingevolge artikel 16 (1) van die Wet op Huweliksgoedere, 1984 (Wet 88 van 1984), waar die vordering of die waarde van die goed in geskil nie die bedrag wat die Minister van tyd tot tyd by kennisgewing in die Staatskoerant bepaal, te bowe gaan nie;

(fA) aksies, met inbegrip van 'n aansoek om likwidasie, ingevolge die Wet op Beslote Korporasies, 1984 (Wet 69 van 1984);

(g) ander aksies as dié wat reeds in hierdie subartikel vermeld is, waar die vordering of die waarde van die onderwerp in geskil nie die bedrag wat die Minister van tyd tot tyd by kennisgewing in die Staatskoerant bepaal, te bowe gaan nie.

[LW: Sub-a. (1) is gewysig deur a. 21 (a) van die Wysigingswet op Landdroshowe 120 van 1993, 'n bepaling wat by proklamasie in werking gestel sal word. Kyk PENDLEX.]

(1A) Die Minister kan verskillende bedrae beoog in subartikel (1) (a), (b), (d), (e), (f) en (g) bepaal ten opsigte van howe vir distrikte en howe vir streekafdelings.

(1B) (a) 'n Hof vir 'n streekafdeling het, behoudens artikel 28 (1A), ten opsigte van skuldoorsake, jurisdiksie om regsgedinge te verhoor betreffende die nietigheid van 'n huwelik of 'n "civil union" en betreffende egskeiding tussen persone en om oor enige vraag wat daaruit voortspruit, te beslis, en om enige aangeleentheid aan te hoor en om enige bevel te verleen waarvoor ingevolge die Wet op Erkenning van Gebruiklike Huwelike, 1998 (Wet 120 van 1998), voorsiening gemaak word.

(b) 'n Hof vir 'n streekafdeling wat 'n aangeleentheid bedoel in paragraaf (a) verhoor, het dieselfde jurisdiksie as 'n Hoë Hof ten opsigte van so 'n aangeleentheid.

(c) Die voorsittende beampte van 'n hof vir 'n streekafdeling wat 'n aangeleentheid bedoel paragraaf (a) verhoor, kan na goeddunke twee persone tot sy of haar hulp roep om met hom of haar as assessors in 'n adviserende hoedanigheid oor feitelike sake te sit en op te tree.

(d) Enige persoon wat as Gesinsadvokaat of Gesinsraadgewer ingevolge die Wet op Bemiddeling in Sekere Egskeidingsaangeleenthede, 1987 (Wet 24 van 1987), aangestel is, word geag om ook aangestel te wees ten opsigte van enige hof vir 'n streekafdeling wat jurisdiksie het in die gebied waarvoor hy of sy so aangestel is.

(1C) Jurisdiksie kragtens hierdie artikel aan 'n hof vir 'n streekafdeling verleen, is daaraan onderworpe dat 'n kennisgewing kragtens artikel 2 (1) (iA) uitgereik is ten opsigte van die plek vir die hou, en die omvang van die siviele beregting, van so 'n hof.

(2) Die woord "aksie" in subartikel (1) omvat ook 'n vordering in rekonvensie.

[LW: Sub-aa. (3) en (4) is bygevoeg deur a. 21 (b) van die Wysigingswet op Landdroshowe 120 van 1993, 'n bepaling wat by proklamasie in werking gestel sal word. Kyk PENDLEX.]

[A. 29 gewysig by a. 13 van Wet 40 van 1952, by a. 39 van Wet 68 van 1957, by a. 3 van Wet 19 van 1963 en by a. 10 van Wet 53 van 1970, vervang by a. 27 van Wet 94 van 1974, gewysig by a. 1 van Wet 56 van 1984 en by a. 35 van Wet 88 van 1984, vervang by a. 3 van Wet 25 van 1987, gewysig by a. 2 van Wet 157 van 1993 en vervang by a. 7 van Wet 31 van 2008.]

2. Clause 2 amends section 30 of the Magistrates’ Courts Act, 1944.

30 Arrests and interdicts

(1) Subject to the limits of jurisdiction prescribed by this Act, the court may grant against persons and things orders for arrest tanquam suspectus de fuga, attachments, interdicts and mandamenten van spolie.

(2) Confirmation by the court of any such attachment or interdict in the judgment in the action shall operate as an extension of the attachment or interdict until execution or further order of the court.

(3) No order of personal arrest tanquam suspectus de fuga shall be made unless-

(a) the cause of action appears to amount, exclusive of costs, to at least forty rand;

[Para. (a) amended by s. 4 of Act 19 of 1963.]

(b) the applicant appears to have no security for the debt or only security falling short of the amount of the debt by at least forty rand; and

[Para. (b) amended by s. 4 of Act 19 of 1963.]

[Para. (c) amended by s. 11 of Act 53 of 1970.]

3. Clause 3 substitutes section 30bis of the Magistrates’ Courts Act, 1944.

30bis Attachment to found or confirm jurisdiction

The court may order attachment of person or property to found or confirm jurisdiction against any person who does not reside in the Republic, in respect of an action within its jurisdiction, where the claim or the value of the matter in dispute amounts to at least forty rand, exclusive of any costs in respect of the recovery thereof, and may grant an order allowing service of any process in such action to be effected in such manner as may be stated in such order.

[S. 30bis inserted by s. 8 of Act 80 of 1964.]

4. Clause 4 amends section 38 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 (Act 51 of 1977).

38 Methods of securing attendance of accused in court

(1) Subject to section 4 (2) of the Child Justice Act, the methods of securing the attendance of an accused who is eighteen years or older in court for the purposes of his or her trial shall be arrest, summons, written notice and indictment in accordance with the relevant provisions of this Act.

(2) The methods of securing the attendance of an accused who is under the age of eighteen years at a preliminary inquiry or child justice court are those contemplated in section 17 of the Child Justice Act, 2008.

[S. 38 substituted by s. 99 (1) of Act 75 of 2008.]

5. Clause 5 amends section 73 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977.

73 Accused entitled to assistance after arrest and at criminal proceedings

(1) An accused who is arrested, whether with or without warrant, shall, subject to any law relating to the management of prisons, be entitled to the assistance of his legal adviser as from the time of his arrest.

(2) An accused shall be entitled to be represented by his legal adviser at criminal proceedings, if such legal adviser is not in terms of any law prohibited from appearing at the proceedings in question.

(2A) Every accused shall-

(a) at the time of his or her arrest;

(b) when he or she is served with a summons in terms of section 54;

(d) when an indictment is served on him or her in terms of section 144 (4) (a);

(e) at his or her first appearance in court,

be informed of his or her right to be represented at his or her own expense by a legal adviser of his or her own choice and if he or she cannot afford legal representation, that he or she may apply for legal aid and of the institutions which he or she may approach for legal assistance.

[Sub-s. (2A) inserted by s. 2 of Act 86 of 1996.]

(2B) Every accused shall be given a reasonable opportunity to obtain legal assistance.

[Sub-s. (2B) inserted by s. 2 of Act 86 of 1996.]

(2C) If an accused refuses or fails to appoint a legal adviser of his or her own choice within a reasonable time and his or her failure to do so is due to his or her own fault, the court may, in addition to any order which it may make in terms of section 342A, order that the trial proceed without legal representation unless the court is of the opinion that that would result in substantial injustice, in which event the court may, subject to the Legal Aid Act, 1969 (Act 22 of 1969), order that a legal adviser be assigned to the accused at the expense of the State: Provided that the court may order that the costs of such representation be recovered from the accused: Provided further that the accused shall not be compelled to appoint a legal adviser if he or she prefers to conduct his or her own defence.

[Sub-s. (2C) inserted by s. 2 of Act 86 of 1996.]

(3) In addition to the provisions of sections 3 (g), 38 (2), 44 (1) (b) and 65 of the Child Justice Act, 2008, relating to the assistance of an accused who is under the age of eighteen years by his or her parent or an appropriate adult at criminal proceedings, any accused who, in the opinion of the court, requires the assistance of another person at criminal proceedings, may, with the permission of the court, be so assisted at such proceedings.