LEGAL AID GUIDE 2014 - Legal Aid South Africa

422 Pages·2014·7.27 MB·English

LEGAL AID GUIDE
2014
13th EDITION
©LegalAidSouthAfrica
Principalplaceofbusinessandlegalserviceaddress:
LegalAidHouse,29DeBeerStreet,Braamfontein,Johannesburg
Tel:[phone],Fax:[phone]
E-mail:[email protected]
Website:www.legal-aid.co.za
CivicLegalAdviceCallCentre:0800110110
EthicsHotlineTelephoneNumber:0800204473
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the Copyright Act 98 of 1978, no part of this work may be reproduced or
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photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system,
withoutpermissioninwritingfromLegalAidSouthAfrica.
Although every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of this publication,
supplements, updates and replacement material, the authors, editors,
publishers and printers do not accept responsibility for any act, omission,
loss,damageortheconsequencesthereofoccasionedbyareliancebyany
personuponthecontentshereof.
©2014
ISBN9781485106180
Publishedin2014
by
Juta&Co.Ltd
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FOREWORD
Foreword
Legal Aid South Africa (Legal Aid SA) is an autonomous statutory body
established by the Legal Aid Act 22 of 1969 (as amended), to render or
make available legal representation at state expense, where substantial
injustice would otherwise result, as contemplated in the Constitution. In
short Legal Aid SA is an institution that is established to promote
constitutionaldemocracy.
Thepromotionofconstitutionaldemocracyunderliestheestablishmentof
a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental
human rights in which every citizen is equally protected by the law. The
provisionoflegalaidsetsthefoundationfortheachievementofequality,
the advancement of human rights and freedom which are the founding
valuesofourConstitutiontherebyensuringtheprotectionoftherightsas
enshrinedintheBillofRights.
TheBillofRightswhichentrenchestheadvancementofhumanrightsand
freedom has been used as the basis to develop elements of the vision
statementoftheNationalDevelopmentalPlananditisakeyelementtothe
creationofademocraticstate,rootedinvaluesoftheconstitution,working
withallsectorsofsocietytoimprovethequalityoflife.Ourcommitmentto
thepromotionoftherightsintheBillofRightsandstrategiclinkswithother
institutionsremaincriticalfornationaldevelopment.
TheLegalAidActrequirestheBoardofLegalAidSA,inconsultationwith
theMinisterofJustice,tosetoutthedetailsofthepoliciesandprocedures
for the provision of legal aid in a guide called the Legal Aid Guide. In so
doing,theSouthAfricanpubliccanbeassuredthatlegalaidismanaged
inafair,equitable,transparentandsustainablemanner.The2012Legal
Aid Guide was reviewed by the Board of Legal Aid SA to ensure that it
remains relevant to the needs of South Africans and complies with the
legislative environment within which Legal Aid SA operates. These
amendments, which are contained in the 2014 Legal Aid Guide, were
ratified by both houses of Parliament on the 29 October 2013 and 12
November2013respectively.
The most important policy amendments brought by the 2014 Legal Aid
Guideincludes:
• Providing for legal representation for children in terms of the Child
JusticeAct;
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LEGALAIDGUIDE2014
• Making provision for legal aid in maintenance cases where there has
beenafailurebythesystemtoenableanapplicanttoobtainorexecute
theorder;
• Clarifyingtheprocurementoflegalservicesthroughimpactlitigationor
byco-operationagreementforsolicitedorunsolicitedbids;
• Aligningthejudicareaccreditationschemetocomplywithsupplychain
managementrequirements;
• Providing legal aid for both section 204 witnesses and persons facing
extradition;
• Clarifyingthegrantingoflegalaidincommissionofinquiries.
We continue striving to meet our strategic objective of protecting and
defending the rights of all poor and vulnerable persons by ensuring
accesstoqualitypublicfundedlegalserviceswhichliesatthecoreofour
mandate,andallourotherobjectives,strategiesandprogrammeswhich
complement this. In our on-going commitment to ensure the advance-
ment of human rights and freedom of the poor, indigent and vulnerable
segments of our society, we provided legal representation to 438,844
clients with an additional 297,835 clients assisted with legal advice. This
meant we were able to positively touch the lives of 736,679 indigent
personsinthe2012/13financialyear.
It is however not possible for Legal Aid SA to fulfil all the legal
representationneedsofthepoorinSouthAfricaandmoreparticularlynot
inthecurrenteconomicclimatewherebudgetcutsareareality.Withtight
fundingregimesandtheincreasingdemandforcivillegalaid,itremainsa
challengetoprovidelegalaidinallmatters.Itisagainstthisbackground
that we have partnered with all Law Societies to encourage private
practitionerstorenderProBonoforourclients.
ItiswithourmandateinmindthatweundertaketoensurethattheLegal
Aid Guide and our services remain relevant to the needs of all indigent,
vulnerable and marginalised persons to ensure that our Constitution
becomesalivingrealityforall.
JudgePresidentDunstanMlambo MsVidhuVedalankar
Chairperson Chief Executive Officer
LegalAidSouthAfrica LegalAidSouthAfrica
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Legal Aid South Africa hereby wishes to acknowledge the contributions
and efforts of the following persons in making the 2012 Legal Aid
Guide,12th Edition, a reality to ensure that Access to Justice as
guaranteedinourConstitutionbecomesarealityforallSouthAfricans:
TheMinisterofJusticeandConstitutionalDevelopment:MrJTRadebe
The Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development: Mr J
Jeffery
TheDirectorGeneral:DepartmentofJusticeandConstitutionalDevelop-
ment:MsNSindane
Chief Director Court Services: Department of Justice and Constitutional
Development:AdvPieterDuRand
ThePortfolioCommitteeforJusticeandConstitutionalDevelopment
TheSelectCommitteeforSecurityandConstitutionalAffairs
TheSecretariesofboththePortfolioandSelectCommittees
TheBoardMembersofLegalAidSouthAfrica–bothcurrentandpast.
TheCEO&ExecutivesofLegalAidSouthAfrica.
TheentireLegalAidSouthAfricastaff.
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QUICKCONTENTS
Quick Contents
HowtousethisLegalAidGuide.................................................... 1
Abbreviationsandacronyms.......................................................... 3
Explanationofusefulwords........................................................... 5
PART1:PREAMBLE........................................................................ 19
Chapter1:LegalAidSouthAfricaMandateandStructure ............... 21
Chapter2:LegalAidSouthAfricaVisionandOutcomes................... 29
Chapter3:TheLegalAidGuide......................................................... 31
PART2:LEGALAIDPOLICY........................................................... 33
Chapter4:LegalAidMatters.............................................................. 35
Chapter5:QualifyingforLegalAid.................................................... 75
Chapter6:GrantingandauthorisingofLegalAid.............................. 93
Chapter7:ThedeliverysystemforLegalAid.................................... 105
Chapter8:Judicare............................................................................ 115
Chapter9:Co-operationPartners...................................................... 135
Chapter10:Generalpolicy................................................................. 141
PART3:LEGALAIDPROCEDURE................................................. 157
Chapter11:ApplyingforLegalAid..................................................... 159
Chapter12:DeliveringLegalAid........................................................ 177
Chapter13:JudicareProcedures....................................................... 193
Chapter14:Co-OperationPartnerProcedures.................................. 209
Circulars............................................................................................ 211
Annexures......................................................................................... 229
SubjectIndex.................................................................................... 371
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Detailed Table of Contents
HowtousethisLegalAidGuide.................................................... 1
Abbreviationsandacronyms.......................................................... 3
Explanationofusefulwords........................................................... 5
PART1:PREAMBLE........................................................................ 19
Chapter1:LEGALAIDSAMANDATE&STRUCTURE................. 21
1.1 Establishment and aims of Legal Aid South Africa............. 21
1.2 Powers of Legal Aid South Africa........................................ 21
1.3 Place of business and legal service address...................... 22
1.4 Overview of Legal Aid SA organisational structure............. 22
Chapter2:LEGALAIDSOUTHAFRICAVISION&OUTCOMES.. 29
2.1 Vision................................................................................... 29
2.2 Mission................................................................................. 29
2.3 Values.................................................................................. 29
2.4 Outcomes............................................................................. 29
Chapter3:THELEGALAIDGUIDE................................................. 31
3.1 The administration of legal aid............................................ 31
3.2 Justice centres..................................................................... 31
3.3 Copies of the latest legal aid guide..................................... 31
PART2:LEGALAIDPOLICY........................................................... 33
Chapter4:LEGALAIDMATTERS................................................... 35
4.1 Legal aid provision............................................................... 35
4.2 Residence of applicant and seat of court............................ 37
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DETAILEDTABLEOFCONTENTS
4.3 Criminal trials under section 35(3)(g) of the Constitution and
section 73 of the Criminal Procedure Act............................ 38
4.4 Criminal appeals under section 35(3)(o) of the Constitution
and sections 309, 309B, 309C, 309D and 316 of the
Criminal Procedure Act........................................................ 44
4.5 Legal aid in other criminal cases......................................... 49
4.6 Co-accused.......................................................................... 49
4.7 Bail applications................................................................... 49
4.8 Bail appeals......................................................................... 49
4.9 Civil cases............................................................................ 50
4.10 Labour cases....................................................................... 55
4.11 Divorce and family law cases.............................................. 56
4.12 Non-litigious legal services ................................................. 58
4.13 Land restitution cases ......................................................... 58
4.14 Labour tenant, ESTA and PIE cases ................................. 59
4.15 Asylum seekers .................................................................. 62
4.16 Hague Convention cases ................................................... 63
4.17 Equality Court cases ........................................................... 64
4.18 Children’s civil cases .......................................................... 64
4.19 Mental Health Care Act users ............................................ 72
4.20 Commissions of Inquiries ................................................... 73
Chapter5:QUALIFYINGFORLEGALAID..................................... 75
5.1 Indigence and the means test ............................................ 75
5.2 Proof of qualification ........................................................... 84
5.3 Legal aid under the Constitution ........................................ 86
5.4 Legal aid in civil cases under the Legal Aid Act ................ 87
5.5 Formal application for legal aid .......................................... 88
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Chapter6:GRANTING&AUTHORISINGOFLEGALAID............. 93
6.1 Approval or refusal of legal aid .......................................... 93
6.2 Appeal against refusal of legal aid ..................................... 96
6.3 Termination of legal aid ...................................................... 98
Chapter7:THEDELIVERYSYSTEMFORLEGALAID.................. 105
7.1 The development of legal aid delivery methods ................ 105
7.2 Choice of legal representative ............................................ 106
7.3 Impact Services Policy ....................................................... 108
Chapter8:JUDICARE...................................................................... 115
8.1 Accreditation, including Black Economic Empowerment
policy.................................................................................... 115
8.2 Allocation of instructions to Judicare .................................. 116
8.2A Judicare Accreditation System ........................................... 117
8.2B Definitions ........................................................................... 117
8.2C Accreditation Rules ............................................................. 118
8.2D Application for Accreditation ............................................... 124
8.3 Voluntary Withdrawal, Exclusion or Suspension from
Accreditation Scheme.......................................................... 126
8.3A Voluntary Withdrawal .......................................................... 127
8.3B Annotation of Accreditation List .......................................... 127
8.3C Temporary Suspension ....................................................... 128
8.3D Procedure to Exclude from Accreditation System .............. 128
8.4 Black Economic Empowerment .......................................... 129
8.5 Tariffs payable to Judicare practitioners ............................ 130
8.6 Constitutional Case Management Committee .................... 131
8.7 Judicare reports and accounts ........................................... 131
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