The Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ) said on Wednesday its Court Online system is now operational in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal Divisions of the High Court, following a successful pilot in the Gauteng High Court.

The OCJ explained that the system provides a platform for law firms or litigants to electronically file documents to the courts, minimising physical movement within court buildings, immensely reducing queues.  

The system is also being progressively implemented at the Land Court, Labour and Labour Appeal Courts, while the Limpopo Division of the High Court is expected to go live later this month.

The Court Online system also aims to minimise paper court documents; leverage the benefits of electronic storage for faster document filing and retrieval; and eradicate the misplacement of court files.

The OCJ pointed out that various webinars on the implementation of the system have been held and continue to be held to familiarise users with the operation of the system.

“The roll out of the Court Online system is part of the OCJ's mandate to support the Judiciary in contributing to fostering the rule of law and in accelerating reforms to ensure that the Courts are administered efficiently. The system rollout contributes to efforts to enhance effectiveness and efficiency in court administration through modernisation of the systems, processes and infrastructure,” it said.