PRACTICE MANUAL OF THE SOUTH GAUTENG HIGH COURT

CHAPTER SIX: CIVIL TRIALS

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A trial will normally be allocated by the Deputy Judge President for hearing by a specific judge at roll call. Roll call is held at 09h30 in Court GC.
Each court term commences on a Monday and terminates on a Friday.
In the allocation of trials due regard will be had to any justifiable claim for precedence in allocation.
As a general rule precedence in allocation will be given to trials in which a proper pre-trial minute was timeously filed with the registrar.
Only trials that are ready for immediate commencement and continuous running to their conclusion will be allocated for hearing.
If it appears at roll call in a trial where the parties have opposing expert witnesses that there is no joint expert minute, the trial will not be allocated until there has been proper compliance with this practice. This may result in the removal of the trial from the roll and the parties having to apply for a new trial date.
If, after allocation of a trial for hearing, it appears to the trial judge that there is no joint expert minute, the presiding judge to whom the trial has been allocated, will not commence or continue with the hearing of the trial but will require proper compliance with the practice. The presiding judge will determine the further hearing of the trial.