- Opposed motions currently have the longest waiting period, with hearing dates scheduled about 14 weeks in advance. This does not include the June and September court recesses.
- Unopposed motions, divorces, summary judgments, and Road Accident Fund (RAF) default judgment trials have shorter waiting times.
- The Johannesburg Attorneys' Association advises practitioners to always check the latest timelines before advising clients.
Litigants in the High Court in Johannesburg may have to wait between two and 14 weeks for their matters to be heard, depending on the case type.
The Johannesburg Attorneys' Association (JAA) has shared new lead time figures for the Gauteng High Court with legal pracitioners. This information aims to help legal practitioners better manage one of the most challenging aspects of client communication.
The association noted that one of the main challenges in client communication is managing expectations about how long it will take for a matter to be heard. It added that realistic timelines help build trust, while inaccurate estimates can harm it.
The JAA confirmed that these figures come directly from the Office of the Acting Deputy Judge President at the Gauteng Division of the High Court, and reflect the position as at 15 June 2026.
Opposed motions face the longest delays
The latest figures show that hearing dates for opposed motions are currently being allocated around 14 weeks in advance, not counting the June and September court recesses.
Unopposed motions have a lead time of five weeks. Matters on the special interlocutory roll require 10 days’ notice, or about two weeks. The unopposed divorce roll, which is heard on Fridays, currently has a waiting period of four weeks.
Other court rolls
The summary judgment roll for unopposed matters is currently on a four-week cycle. The Road Accident Fund default judgment trial roll now has a lead time of 10 weeks.
These updated figures are meant to help attorneys plan litigation and give clients a realistic idea of when their cases might be heard.
JAA urges practitioners to verify timelines
The JAA cautioned that these lead times may change and should not be seen as fixed. The association said these figures can shift, so practitioners should always check the latest information before advising clients on timing.
The association also said it will continue to share updates like these to support practitioners throughout Johannesburg, and encouraged attorneys to stay up to date with future notices.
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