Identity area
Type of entity
Governmental body
Authorized form of name
Supreme Court of South Africa, Natal Provincial Division, Pietermaritzburg
Parallel form(s) of name
- Hooggereshof Van S.A Natalse Provinsiale Afdeling, Pietermaritzburg
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
RSC
Contact area
Description area
Dates of existence
1845-
History
The Natal District Court, following under the Cape Colony was established by Ordinance No. 14 of 1845, with its seat in Pietermaritzburg. The supreme and Circuit Courts of Natal superseded it in terms of law no 10 of 1857. Still seated in Pietermaritzburg, it became the Natal Provincial Division of the Supreme Court of South Africa in 1910.
Places
Natal
Legal status
Governmental Body
Functions, occupations and activities
The Supreme Court listened to any case which was too serious for the Magistrate’s Court or when a person or organization went to the court to change a decision of a Magistrate’s Court, which means appealing a case.
The Supreme Courts had “jurisdiction” – the right to hear a case – over defined provincial areas in which they were situated, in this case areas within the northern part of what was the then Natal Province. The decisions of the Supreme Courts were binding on the Magistrate’s Courts within their areas of jurisdiction. The courts usually only heard civil matters involving a substantial amount of money, and serious criminal cases. They also heard any appeals or reviews from lower courts (Magistrates’ courts) which fell in their geographical jurisdiction. The Supreme Court usually heard any matter involving a person’s status (for example, adoption, insolvency, marriage, etc.).
The Supreme Courts had “jurisdiction” – the right to hear a case – over defined provincial areas in which they were situated, in this case areas within the northern part of what was the then Natal Province. The decisions of the Supreme Courts were binding on the Magistrate’s Courts within their areas of jurisdiction. The courts usually only heard civil matters involving a substantial amount of money, and serious criminal cases. They also heard any appeals or reviews from lower courts (Magistrates’ courts) which fell in their geographical jurisdiction. The Supreme Court usually heard any matter involving a person’s status (for example, adoption, insolvency, marriage, etc.).
Mandates/sources of authority
South Africa Act 1909, Constitution of Republic of South Africa, Superior Courts Act.
Internal structures/genealogy
General context
Relationships area
Access points area
Subject access points
Place access points
Occupations
Control area
Authority record identifier
RSC
Institution identifier
NAB
Rules and/or conventions used
International Standard Archival Authority Record For Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families (ISAAR)
Status
Draft
Level of detail
Partial
Dates of creation, revision and deletion
11 November 2024
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
- Latin
Sources
Archives of the Registrars of the Supreme Court
1. Natal Provincial Division, Pietermaritzburg
2. Special Courts
3. Protocols
1. Natal Provincial Division, Pietermaritzburg
2. Special Courts
3. Protocols
Maintenance notes
Tankiso Thebula