| KwaZulu-Natal Division of the High Court of South Africa | |
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The Durban courthouse of the KwaZulu-Natal Division
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| 29°35′58″S 30°22′49″E / 29.5994°S 30.3804°E / -29.5994; 30.3804 | |
| Established | 1846 (Natal District Court) |
| Location | Pietermaritzburg (main seat), Durban (local seat) |
| Coordinates | 29°35′58″S 30°22′49″E / 29.5994°S 30.3804°E / -29.5994; 30.3804 |
| Composition method | Presidential appointment on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission |
| Authorized by | Chp. 8 of the Constitution; Superior Courts Act, 2013 |
| Appeals to | Supreme Court of AppealorConstitutional Court |
| Judge President | |
| Currently | Thoba Poyo-Dlwati |
The KwaZulu-Natal Division of the High Court of South Africa is a superior court of law with general jurisdiction over the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The main seat of the division is at Pietermaritzburg, while a subordinate local seat at Durban has concurrent jurisdiction over the coastal region of the province. As of January 2024[update] the Judge President of the division is Thoba Poyo-Dlwati.
The Natalia Republic, established in 1839 by Voortrekkers, was annexed by Britain in 1843 and renamed Natal. In 1844 it was attached to the Cape Colony, and in 1846 a District Court for Natal was established with its seat in Pietermaritzburg.[1] In 1856 Natal was detached from the Cape and became a separate colony, and in 1857 the District Court was replaced by a Supreme Court of Natal.[2] When the Union of South Africa was formed in 1910, the Supreme Court of Natal became the Natal Provincial Division of the Supreme Court of South Africa; at the same time, the circuit court at Durban became the Durban & Coast Local Division. When the current Constitution of South Africa came into force in 1997, the courts became High Courts, and in 2009 they were renamed the KwaZulu-Natal High Courts. In 2013, in the restructuring brought about by the Superior Courts Act, the courts became two seats of a single KwaZulu-Natal Division of the High Court of South Africa.
After former South African President Jacob Zuma failed to appear in court on 4 February 2020, the KwaZulu-Natal Division of the High Court of South Africa issued an arrest warrant against Zuma.[3]
| City | Coordinates | Jurisdiction | Former names |
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| Pietermaritzburg (main seat) | 29°35′58″S 30°22′49″E / 29.5994°S 30.3804°E / -29.5994; 30.3804 (KwaZulu-Natal Division, Pietermaritzburg) | Province of KwaZulu-Natal | Natal District Court; Supreme Court of Natal; Natal Provincial Division; KwaZulu-Natal High Court, Pietermaritzburg |
| Durban | 29°51′44″S 31°01′10″E / 29.8621°S 31.0194°E / -29.8621; 31.0194 (KwaZulu-Natal Division, Durban) | Districts of Alfred, Chatsworth, Durban, Eshowe, Mtonjaneni, Hlabisa, Inanda, Ingwavuma, Lower Tugela, Lower Umfolozi, Mahlabatini, Mapumulo, Matatiele, Mtunzini, Ndwedwe, Nkandla, Nongoma, Pinetown, Port Shepstone, Ubombo, Umbumbulu, Umlazi, Umzimkulu and Umzinto | Durban Circuit Court; Durban & Coast Local Division; KwaZulu-Natal High Court, Durban |
As of January 2023, the permanent judges of the KwaZulu-Natal Division were:[4]
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