Step 1: Register on Court Online
Before you can file anything, you must create a Court Online account. Mandatory from 14 April 2025.
No new cases may be issued manually. All applications must be initiated on the Court Online Portal. Directive 1.1–1.2
Go to the Court Online Portal
Visit courtonline.judiciary.org.za. The Judiciary home page provides FAQs, contact information, registration details, and video tutorials. Directive 1.5
Click "Register"
Select the registration option for individuals (self-represented litigants). You will need your South African ID number.
Enter Your Personal Details
Complete the registration form with your full name, South African ID number, physical address, telephone number, and email address.
- Full name (as per ID)
- South African ID number (13 digits)
- Physical residential address
- Cell phone number
- Valid email address
Create a Secure Password
Your password must meet the portal's security requirements. Write it down and store it safely.
- At least 8 characters
- One uppercase letter
- One lowercase letter
- One number
- One special character (!@#$%^&*)
Submit Registration
Click "Register." The system validates your ID against Home Affairs data. If validation fails, check your ID number or contact the Help Desk.
Activate Your Account
Check your email inbox (and spam folder) for an activation email from Court Online. Click the activation link to verify your account. You cannot log in until this is complete.
Complete Your Profile
Log in and complete any remaining profile fields. Ensure your contact details are accurate — the Registrar and other parties will use this information.
Registration Checklist
-
Visited courtonline.judiciary.org.za
-
Clicked "Register" and selected individual
-
Entered all personal details correctly
-
Created a secure password
-
Submitted registration successfully
-
Clicked activation link in email
-
Logged in and completed profile
-
Verified email address is correct
Step 2: Issue Your Motion & Obtain a Case Number
Upload ONLY your signed Notice of Motion first. The Registrar issues the official case number. Do NOT upload your Founding Affidavit at this stage.
Upload ONLY the Notice of Motion for issuing. The Founding Affidavit comes AFTER the case number is issued. Uploading it now will cause rejection. Directive 1.11
When you click "Start a Case," the portal generates a reference number (e.g., HCGS00363). This is NOT the case number. The case number (e.g., J1234/2026) is issued by the Registrar after review. Only the case number goes on court documents. Directive 1.8–1.10
Log In to Court Online
Go to courtonline.judiciary.org.za and log in with your registered email and password.
Click "Start a Case"
On your dashboard, click "Start a Case." The portal generates a reference number for this draft case. Remember: this is NOT your case number.
Select the Correct Court and Case Type
Choose the Labour Court seat (Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, or Gqeberha). Select the appropriate case type:
- Review Application — reviewing a CCMA or bargaining council award (Rule 37)
- Referral — referring a dispute in terms of LRA s145
- Application — other applications (e.g., interdict, contempt)
Enter Party Details
Enter the full names of all parties. For a review application:
- Applicant: Your full name (the employee)
- First Respondent: The CCMA or bargaining council
- Second Respondent: Your employer
Upload ONLY the Notice of Motion
This is the most important step. Upload only your signed Notice of Motion as a PDF. The Notice of Motion must:
- Be in PDF format
- Be duly signed by you (the applicant)
- Call upon the respondent to show cause why the award should not be reviewed
- Call upon the CCMA/bargaining council to dispatch the complete record within 10 days
- NOT include the Founding Affidavit at this stage
The affidavit is filed later under "My Case Documents" after the case number is issued. Directive 1.11
Submit for Issuing
Click "Submit" or "Issue." Your request is sent to the Registrar for review. The portal displays your reference number and a confirmation message.
Wait for the Case Number
The Registrar usually issues the case number within 1–3 business days. You will receive an email notification.
Download the Issued Notice of Motion
Once the case number is issued, download the stamped Notice of Motion from the portal. This is the version you must serve on the respondents. It now bears the official case number.
Serve the Notice of Motion
Serve the issued Notice of Motion on all respondents within the timeframes prescribed by the Labour Court Rules:
- Rule 9(1)(a)(iv): Service by email is sufficient if the respondent has an email address
- Rule 9(1)(a)(i): Personal service at the respondent's place of business or residence
- Rule 9(1)(a)(iii): Service by registered post
Issuing Checklist
- Logged in to Court Online
- Clicked "Start a Case" (reference number generated)
- Selected correct Labour Court seat
- Selected correct case type (Review/Referral/Application)
- Entered all party names correctly
- Uploaded ONLY the signed Notice of Motion (PDF)
- Did NOT upload the Founding Affidavit at this stage
- Submitted for issuing
- Received case number from Registrar
- Downloaded issued Notice of Motion
- Served Notice of Motion on all respondents
- Prepared Affidavit of Service
Step 3: File Your Documents
After the case number is issued, upload all remaining documents under "My Case Documents." All documents must be in PDF format.
Do not upload Word, Excel, or image files. Select the correct document type from the dropdown. Do NOT select "Other" — email the Help Desk if your type is missing. Directive 1.12(a)–(e)
Navigate to "My Case Documents"
Log in to Court Online, go to your case dashboard, and click on your case. Select "My Case Documents" to view the document upload area.
Upload the Founding Affidavit
Select "Founding Affidavit" from the document type dropdown. Upload your signed Founding Affidavit in PDF format.
Upload the Affidavit of Service
Select "Affidavit of Service" from the document type dropdown. Upload the affidavit confirming proper service on all respondents.
- State the date and time of service
- State the place of service
- State the name of the person served (or method if email/post)
- Attach proof of service (email receipt, registered post tracking)
Upload the Arbitration Award
Select "Arbitration Award" from the document type dropdown. Upload the certified copy of the CCMA or bargaining council award you are reviewing.
CCMA Dispatches the Record (Rule 37)
Upon receipt of your Notice of Motion, the CCMA or bargaining council must deliver the complete record of arbitration proceedings to the Registrar through a cloud-based service. Directive 2.1; Rule 37(2)(b)
Upload the Record (If Applicable)
Once you receive the SharePoint link from the Registrar, you may need to upload portions of the record to your case file. Follow the Registrar's instructions.
Upload the Answering Affidavit (If Defended)
If the respondent files an answering affidavit, they must upload it to Court Online. You will be notified by email. You then have the opportunity to file a replying affidavit.
Document Formatting Requirements (Rule 8)
All documents uploaded to Court Online must comply with Rule 8 of the Labour Court Rules:
- A4 size paper
- One-sided printing
- Font size 12 or larger
- Double-spaced text
- Margins: at least 25mm on all sides
- Pages numbered consecutively
- Bound or stapled on the left margin
- PDF format only
Document Type Reference
| Document | When to Upload | Document Type |
|---|---|---|
| Notice of Motion | At issuing (ONLY this document) | Notice of Motion |
| Founding Affidavit | After case number issued | Founding Affidavit |
| Affidavit of Service | After serving Notice of Motion | Affidavit of Service |
| Arbitration Award | After case number issued | Arbitration Award |
| Answering Affidavit | When filed by respondent | Answering Affidavit |
| Replying Affidavit | Within 10 days of answering | Replying Affidavit |
| Heads of Argument | Before hearing (5 days after index) | Heads of Argument |
| Index / Bundle | After all affidavits filed | Index |
| Pre-Enrolment Form | When applying for hearing date | Pre-Enrolment Form |
| Request for Enrolment Date | When matter is ripe for hearing | Application for Hearing or Trial Date |
Do NOT select "Other." Email CourtOnlineSupport@judiciary.org.za with the subject "Request to add a new document type on Court Online" and describe the document. Directive 1.12(e)
Filing Checklist
- Navigated to "My Case Documents"
- Uploaded Founding Affidavit (PDF, correct type)
- Uploaded Affidavit of Service (PDF, correct type)
- Uploaded Arbitration Award (PDF, correct type)
- CCMA/bargaining council dispatched record to Registrar
- Received SharePoint link for record access
- All documents comply with Rule 8 formatting
- No document type set to "Other"
Court Online Help Desk
Unrepresented litigants MUST be referred to the Court Online Service Desk for free assistance. This is mandatory under Directive 1 of 2025.
"Unrepresented or in-person litigants must be referred to the Court Online Service Desk located at the court, where designated court staff members can assist with case initiation." Directive 1.7
General Court Online Support
CourtOnlineSupport@judiciary.org.za
010 493 2600
Monday–Friday, 09:00–16:00
Meeting ID: 322 085 818 456
Passcode: PskwC8
Labour Court Registrar Contacts (By Seat)
labourcourt-admin@judiciary.org.za
After hours: 081 350 4175
Office hours: 010 494 9253/4
labourcourtcapetown@judiciary.org.za
After hours: 072 852 1616
durbanlabourcourt@judiciary.org.za
After hours: 082 393 9189
GqeberhaLabourCourt@judiciary.org.za
After hours: 072 269 1862
Caselines / Bundle Contacts (For Enrolled Matters)
Ms Francinah Nelisiwe Ntuli
Fntuli@judiciary.org.za
Mr Siphesihle Mjwara
SMjwara@judiciary.org.za
Ms Farzaana Ismail
FIsmail@judiciary.org.za
Ms Lauren Marshal-Reen
LMarshal-Reen@judiciary.org.za
Office Hours (All Seats)
The Judge President may direct that any document be delivered at any specific date and/or time. Rule 2(3)
Frequently Asked Questions
No. As of 14 April 2025, Directive 1 of 2025 makes Court Online mandatory for all new Labour Court cases. Manual issuing is prohibited. Directive 1.1–1.2
Visit the Court Online Service Desk at the Labour Court. Staff will assist you with registration and filing free of charge. Directive 1.7
The reference number (e.g., HCGS00363) is generated when you click "Start a Case." The case number (e.g., J1234/2026) is issued by the Registrar after approving your Notice of Motion. Only the case number goes on court documents. Directive 1.8–1.10
No. Upload ONLY the Notice of Motion for issuing. The Founding Affidavit is uploaded later under "My Case Documents" after the case number is issued. Uploading the affidavit at the start will cause rejection. Directive 1.11
Usually 1–3 business days, depending on volume and compliance. You will receive an email notification.
No. Registration, filing, and document uploads are free for all users. The Labour Court does not charge filing fees for review applications by self-represented litigants.
Do NOT select "Other." Email CourtOnlineSupport@judiciary.org.za with the subject "Request to add a new document type on Court Online" and describe the document. Directive 1.12(d)–(e)
Yes. Under Labour Court Rule 9(1)(a)(iv), service by email is sufficient if the other party has an email address. You must file an affidavit of service proving delivery. Rule 9(1)(a)(iv)