South Africa’s Labour Court has gone fully digital: What HR and Legal teams need to know

From 14 April 2025, South Africa’s Labour Court officially made the leap to a fully digital system. Whether you’re preparing for a disciplinary dispute, an urgent application, or a restraint-of-trade matter, all cases must now be filed and managed online through the new Court Online portal.

This change, set out in Directive 1 of 2025, applies across the board to all Labour Courts in Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, and Gqeberha. It marks a permanent shift away from paper, aimed at making legal processes faster, easier to track, and more accessible to everyone.

Here’s what HR and legal teams need to know to stay ahead of the curve:

1. Everything starts online, no exceptions

All new cases must now be filed through the Court Online system. This includes cases brought by unrepresented individuals. You won’t get a case number until your initiating documents (like a statement of claim or notice of motion) are uploaded and correctly formatted as PDFs.

Tip: Make sure your internal processes are ready for this. HR teams and company representatives should know how to coordinate with legal to prepare court-ready documents from the outset.

2. Urgent matters still require urgency

Urgent applications (such as interdicts or restraint-of-trade matters) must be filed online under the correct rule. You can no longer drop off physical papers at court, except in very rare circumstances, and even then, the case must be uploaded to the system.

Tip: Plan for speed, but also precision. Errors in marking or uploading can delay or derail your application, even if the urgency is real.

3. Organised files are non-negotiable

The court now expects all records, especially arbitration awards from the CCMA or bargaining councils, to be clearly indexed and uploaded in line with Rule 37. If your case file is incomplete or messy, it may be removed from the roll without warning.

Tip: Treat digital bundles like you would a Board report: well-labelled, logically grouped, and easy to navigate. Disorganised files waste time and risk credibility.

4. You don’t get to pick your date anymore

Once a case is ready, only the Registrar can assign hearing dates. You request a date through the portal. No side arrangements with clerks or informal emails to Judges’ Secretaries. Cases without a proper notice of set down won’t make it onto the court roll.

Tip: Build this step into your internal timeline. Many delays in Labour Court matters come down to poor calendaring or missteps when requesting dates.

5. The old system (Caselines) is being phased out

From 31 March 2025, no new cases may be started on Caselines. If you had matters pending there, they still need to comply with the new digital rules. Judges now freeze case files five days before a hearing to prevent last-minute uploads.

Tip: Finalise your bundles early and triple-check them. There’s no fixing things the night before court.

6. Orders, judgments, and appeals are all online

Draft orders must be uploaded in both Word and PDF. Urgent orders must go up within 24 hours of the hearing; regular ones within seven court days. Appeals are also lodged through the portal, with checks for compliance built into the system.

Tip: Your legal team should prepare editable orders in advance. This makes for smoother post-hearing processing and avoids administrative errors.

7. Non-compliance carries real risk

Missing deadlines, filing documents incorrectly, or trying to sneak in last-minute changes can lead to your case being struck off the roll – and potentially cost orders. Repeat issues may even lead to disciplinary consequences for legal practitioners.

Tip: Keep a checklist and a shared tracker across your HR and legal teams. Treat each court process like a compliance exercise, with clear steps and sign-offs.

Final thoughts

This digital transition is more than an IT upgrade. It’s a complete shift in how the Labour Court expects matters to be run. For HR and in-house counsel, the best defence is being prepared.

The good news? The system rewards teams who are well-organised, proactive, and digitally ready.

And if you’re not sure whether your current processes, contract templates, or litigation strategies are aligned with this new reality, it may be time for a fresh look.

For advice or more information contact Riona Kalua, Head of our Labour and Employment Team.