These are the lower courts that deal with the less serious criminal and civil cases. The regional courts deal with both civil and criminal matters and have recently been given jurisdiction to deal with divorce cases. The District Courts deal with criminal and civil cases. The magistrate makes the decisions in a Magistrates’ Court sometimes with the support of lay assessors. Most Magistrates’ Courts can hear Equality Court cases, These are cases where you feel you have been discriminated against or harassed or subject to hate speech.

Magistrates’ Courts can be divided into either criminal courts or civil courts.

(See: Chart: The Courts in South Africa and Appeal or Review Procedures)