How can I get a judge to deliver a delayed judgment?

The long answer

I’m afraid the news about reserved judgments is not good. According to a GroundUp article by Marecia Damons on 29 July 2025, some 1,723 judgments were reserved as of 7 October 2024 or 1 November 2024, depending on the court. Damons says that the Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ) used to provide an update on reserved judgments three to four times a year. “But since mid-2023, the judiciary has not consistently published up-to-date reports. No reserved judgment reports for 2025 have been published.”

The article goes on to explain that in terms of the Judicial Norms and Standards, a judgment should not be reserved without a fixed date for handing down. And that six months is the longest it should take currently.

According to the latest list issued by the Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ), the Pretoria High Court, where your divorce judgment was reserved, had the highest number of late judgments at the start of the 2024 fourth term. It had 55 cases outstanding for over six months, an increase from the previous term’s 40 late judgments.

Damons says that the system of reporting reserved judgments is honour-based, meaning that judges are expected to report when they reserve a ruling.

The OCJ has acknowledged the delayed judgments and says that implementing the Court Online system is one of the ways to resolve the backlog.

So, what can you do?

Court Managers (or acting Court Managers) are appointed as Complaints Officers for their individual courts, according to the South African Judiciary, which claims that the OCJ has created a policy on complaints management. Complainants will only communicate with Court Managers regarding the handling of received complaints. The public can file complaints by filling out the complaints form and sending it to the Complaints Officer, or by sending letters or emails.

This OJC complaints form can be downloaded here: OCJ Complaints Management

These are the contact details for the Court Manager (Complaints Officer) of the Gauteng Division in Pretoria:

Ms Shertina Letlaka (Acting)

Address: Office 6.29, 6th Floor, Gauteng Division of the High Court, Cnr Paul Kruger and Madiba Street, Pretoria 

Telephone: 012 492 6796 or 012 492 6797

Email: [email protected]

Wishing you the best,
Athalie