JACQUES DU PREEZ
Prokureurs, Transportbesorgers & Boedelberedderaars
Attorneys, Conveyancers & Administrators of
Estates
Jacques du Preez (B.Juris LL.B)(UPE) Candidate
Attorney:
Hayley Biljon (LLB)(UPE)
96 MANGOLD STREET, NEWTON PARK,
PORT ELIZABETH, 6045
VAT Reg. No. 470 019 1184
Ons verw/Our ref: J DU PREEZ/tl/
U verw/Your ref:
30 January 2008
MS PH SIBISI
DEAR MADAM
I was informed that the Bill aims to bestow
extended civil jurisdiction on the Regional Courts by including jurisdiction to
deal with all matters currently falling within the jurisdiction of the Divorce
Courts, that the Divorce Court will be merged with and become part of the
Regional Courts and that the Bill intends repealing the Administration Act of
1929.
Our firm’s experience of the Southern Divorce
Court in
Our experience of the Regional Courts are
unfortunately not as positive as we have often experienced that the rolls are
over-congested, be that due to limited number of Regional Court Magistrates or
not enough Regional Courts sitting at a given stage. We consider courts to be “horses for courses”
in other words the Southern Divorce Court in Port Elizabeth is geared for
divorce and family matters and is working efficiently, then why change it? On the other hand, to our knowledge the
Regional Court Magistrates are not currently trained in Family Law but deal
exclusively with criminal matters.
Should the
Of course we cannot comment on how efficiently
the Divorce Courts in the rest of the country operate and we tender no input in
that regard.
Another aspect that should be addressed
urgently is the tariffs of party and party costs that a party can recover: it
is simply too low and needs revision.
Kindly confirm receipt.
Yours faithfully