From 14 April, all cases brought before the Labour Court must be filed and managed through the Court Online digital platform, marking a major shift in how litigation is conducted.
The Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ) initiated the development of the Court Online system in 2019, aiming to modernise court processes by providing a cloud-based platform for electronic filing and case management.
The implementation began with a pilot phase in the Gauteng Division of the High Court during the third term of 2019, extending into the fourth term. Following its success, the system was fully implemented in Gauteng on 27 January 2020.
In the Labour Court, the roll-out followed a phased approach. Practice Directive 1 of 2024 made it compulsory for all urgent applications to be filed via Court Online from 12 August 2024.
This was followed by Directive 01 of 2025, which expanded the use of the Court Online Portal to all applications in the Labour Courts in Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, and Gqeberha, and marked the system’s full implementation for all case-related processes in the Labour Court as of 14 April 2025.
New cases initiated after the effective date of the Directive may no longer be filed manually (in person).
One of the key advantages of the platform is its ability to store court files securely in the cloud, reducing the risk of documents being lost or archived improperly. It also aims to reduce delays caused by paper-based administration.
Verushka Reddy, a director at Norton Rose Fulbright, describes the system as a leap forward, aligning with the Labour Relations Act’s objective of resolving disputes expeditiously. She notes in a recent blog post that Court Online provides a user-friendly interface featuring FAQs, registration guidance, video tutorials, and contact details.
“Several compliance checklists have been included in the directives to ensure that all necessary steps and documents are completed before a matter is enrolled for hearing,” Reddy explains. “These checklists cover different types of applications, such as referrals, reviews, and section 158(1)(c) applications, and are designed to help practitioners and litigants comply with the new procedures.”
Court Online ushers in major procedural changes
The system brings substantial procedural changes to the Labour Appeal Court and the Labour Court, with implications for how both legal practitioners and litigants prepare and manage their cases.
Reddy outlined these changes:
Mandatory online case initiation
From 14 April 2025, all new cases must be initiated on the Court Online Portal. Practitioners and litigants are required to register their personal details on the portal. This change aims to simplify the case initiation process and ensure that all necessary information is readily available online.
Delivery of arbitration records
The CCMA or bargaining councils will now deliver arbitration records to the Registrar via a cloud-based service – this is applicable to Labour Court motion proceedings such as review applications. Once the records are received, the Registrar will notify the parties involved and provide them with access to the digital records. This change is expected to improve the efficiency and accessibility of arbitration records.
Enrolment of ordinary matters
When pleadings have closed, practitioners must notify the Registrar when a matter is ready for hearing and upload the necessary documents to the portal. The Registrar will allocate a provisional hearing date and manage the case file on the portal.
Trial procedure
Detailed steps for preparing and uploading documents for trial have been provided. The indexing and bundling of documents must be done in accordance with the applicable Labour Appeal Court and Labour Appeal Court Rules.
Orders and judgments
Court orders and judgments will now be managed through the portal. Procedures for generating, uploading, and publishing court orders and judgments have been outlined, with the Judge’s Secretary playing a key role in managing these documents. This change is expected to improve the accuracy and accessibility of court orders and judgments.
Taxation of costs and appeals
Guidelines for handling bills of costs and applications for leave to appeal have also been included. The process for uploading and managing these documents on the portal has been specified to ensure that all necessary information is available and easily accessible. For appeals, the applicant/petitioner must apply for a Labour Appeal Court case number by selecting the appropriate section on the portal and initiate the application by filing the notice of petition together with the founding affidavit, if any. The Registrar will allocate an appeal case number, and all necessary documents must subsequently be uploaded in accordance with the rules.
Labour court litigants must register online before initiating cases
With the Labour Court’s full transition to the Court Online digital platform shortly in effect, all practitioners and litigants are required to register on the system before filing new matters.
Registration can be completed via the official website, www.courtonline.judiciary.org.
Foreign nationals who are registered with the Legal Practice Council (LPC) but do not have a South African identity number must email the Court Online Support Helpdesk at CourtOnlineSupport@judiciary.org.za for assistance. The LPC registration number should be included in the email.
The same process applies to unrepresented foreign nationals without a South African ID.
Litigants who do not have legal representation – referred to as “in person” litigants – must visit the Court Online Service Desk located at the Labour Court.
According to the Directive, designated court staff will be on hand to assist with case registration and initiation. Registrars have been tasked with keeping a record of all such cases.
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