On 2 May 2020, the Chief Justice of South Africa issued a set of
directives in terms of the Superior Courts Act, 2013, which apply
to the management of courts for the remainder of the national state
of disaster. In terms of these directives (which repeal the
directives issued by the Chief Justice on 17 April 2020):
- the general directive that only urgent
applications and urgent matters arising from activities associated
to disaster management may be heard in open court during the
lockdown period has been removed;
- criminal trials set down for hearing during the period of the
national state of disaster will be dealt with in a manner to be
determined by the respective Heads of Court;
