On 2 June 2020, the Minister of Justice and Correctional
Services issued directions to address, prevent and combat the
spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in all courts, court precincts
and justice service points in South Africa during alert level 3.
The annexure to the directive, which outlines the permitted
services under alert level 3, amends the position regarding the
issuing of process.
In regards to civil matters, the issuing of all court process
and proceedings and filing of papers is permitted under alert level
3. This is to be contrasted with the directives applicable to alert
level 4, which limited the issuing and filing of papers to those
which were "relevant to pending proceedings".