KwaZulu-Natal Division

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 August 2013 the Judge President of the division is Chiman Patel.

KwaZulu-Natal Division of the High Court of South Africa
The Durban courthouse of the KwaZulu-Natal Division
29.5994°S 30.3804°E / -29.5994; 30.3804
Established1846 (Natal District Court)
LocationPietermaritzburg (main seat), Durban (local seat)
Coordinates29.5994°S 30.3804°E / -29.5994; 30.3804
Composition methodPresidential appointment on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission
Authorized byChp. 8 of the Constitution; Superior Courts Act, 2013
Appeals toSupreme Court of Appeal or Constitutional Court
Judge President
CurrentlyChiman Patel

History

The 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
CityCoordinatesJurisdictionFormer names
Pietermaritzburg (main seat) 29.5994°S 30.3804°E / -29.5994; 30.3804 (KwaZulu-Natal Division, Pietermaritzburg) Province of KwaZulu-Natal Natal District Court; Supreme Court of Natal; Natal Provincial Division; KwaZulu-Natal High Court, Pietermaritzburg
Durban 29.8621°S 31.0194°E / -29.8621; 31.0194 (KwaZulu-Natal Division, Durban) 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

References
  1. "Legal centre of Natal". Pietermaritzburg Local History. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
  2. 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.
  3. Swails, Brent. "Arrest warrant issued for former South Africa President Jacob Zuma". CNN. Retrieved 2020-02-19.
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