The KwaZulu-Natal Division of the High Court of South Africa is a superior court of law with general jurisdiction over the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The main seat of the division is at Pietermaritzburg, while a subordinate local seat at Durban has concurrent jurisdiction over the coastal region of the province. As of January 2024[update] the Judge President of the division is Thoba Poyo-Dlwati.
| KwaZulu-Natal Division of the High Court of South Africa | |
|---|---|
 The Durban courthouse of the KwaZulu-Natal Division | |
 | |
| 29°35′58″S 30°22′49″E / 29.5994°S 30.3804°E | |
| Established | 1846 (Natal District Court) |
| Jurisdiction | KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| Location | Pietermaritzburg (main seat), Durban (local seat) |
| Coordinates | 29°35′58″S 30°22′49″E / 29.5994°S 30.3804°E |
| Composition method | Presidential appointment on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission |
| Authorised by | Chp. 8 of the Constitution; Superior Courts Act, 2013 |
| Appeals to | |
| Judge President | |
| Currently | Thoba Poyo-Dlwati |
History
editThe Natalia Republic, established in 1839 by Voortrekkers, was annexed by Britain in 1843 and renamed Natal. In 1844 it was attached to the Cape Colony, and in 1846 a District Court for Natal was established with its seat in Pietermaritzburg.[1] In 1856 Natal was detached from the Cape and became a separate colony, and in 1857 the District Court was replaced by a Supreme Court of Natal.[2] When the Union of South Africa was formed in 1910, the Supreme Court of Natal became the Natal Provincial Division of the Supreme Court of South Africa; at the same time, the circuit court at Durban became the Durban & Coast Local Division. When the current Constitution of South Africa came into force in 1997, the courts became High Courts, and in 2009 they were renamed the KwaZulu-Natal High Courts. In 2013, in the restructuring brought about by the Superior Courts Act, the courts became two seats of a single KwaZulu-Natal Division of the High Court of South Africa.
After former South African President Jacob Zuma failed to appear in court on 4 February 2020, the KwaZulu-Natal Division of the High Court of South Africa issued an arrest warrant against Zuma.[3]
Seats
edit| City | Coordinates | Jurisdiction | Former names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pietermaritzburg (main seat) | 29°35′58″S 30°22′49″E / 29.5994°S 30.3804°E | Province of KwaZulu-Natal | Natal District Court; Supreme Court of Natal; Natal Provincial Division; KwaZulu-Natal High Court, Pietermaritzburg |
| Durban | 29°51′44″S 31°01′10″E / 29.8621°S 31.0194°E | Districts of Alfred, Chatsworth, Durban, Eshowe, Mtonjaneni, Hlabisa, Inanda, Ingwavuma, Lower Tugela, Lower Umfolozi, Mahlabatini, Mapumulo, Matatiele, Mtunzini, Ndwedwe, Nkandla, Nongoma, Pinetown, Port Shepstone, Ubombo, Umbumbulu, Umlazi, Umzimkulu and Umzinto | Durban Circuit Court; Durban & Coast Local Division; KwaZulu-Natal High Court, Durban |
Judges
editAs of January 2023, the permanent judges of the KwaZulu-Natal Division were:[4]
- Thoba Poyo-Dlwati (Judge President)
- Isaac Madondo (Deputy Judge President)
- Piet Koen
- Dhaya Pillay
- N. H. Radebe
- R. Seegobin
- J. A. Ploos van Amstel
- G. Lopes
- Mahendra Chetty
- N. E. Chili
- P. C. Buizedenhout
- C. S. Sibiya
- M. T. Ncube
- R. G. Mossop
- G. N. Kruger
- K. Pillay
- S. R. Balton
- M. S. Moodley
- E. J. S. Steyn
- J. I. Henriques
- Z. P. Nkosi
- R. A. K. Vahed
- P. J. Olsen
- Mokgere Masipa
- K. Q. Hadebe
- S. B. Mngadi
- B. S. M. Bedderson
- M. E. Nkosi
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Legal centre of Natal". Pietermaritzburg Local History. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
- ^ Khan, F. W.; Heunis, T. L. (2003). "Chapter 1: The historical development of the Supreme Court of South Africa" (PDF). A review of the administrative recess system in the High Court. Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. p. 6.
- ^ Swails, Brent. "Arrest warrant issued for former South Africa President Jacob Zuma". CNN. Retrieved 2020-02-19.
- ^ "Kwazulu-Natal Division Judges". Judiciary. Retrieved 2024-01-06.