Friday, 23 May 2025 | Mpumalanga
It is all systems go for court users at the Middelburg High Court as the Court Online system went live on 22 May 2025. This means the court has begun the move from paper files to a digital system that allows documents to be filed and accessed electronically.
The implementation follows the main launch in Nelspruit which is part of the national Court Online rollout under the Integrated Justice System (IJS) programme. A dedicated event in Middelburg was held to ensure that court officials, legal practitioners, and the broader community also feel ownership of the new process.
Judge President Segopotje Sheila Mphahlele welcomed guests and thanked the teams behind the scenes, including the National Office of the Office of the Chief Justice, the local Judiciary, and national leaders such as Chief Justice Mandisa Maya and Judge President Mlambo.
"I’m very lucky to have such supportive and cooperative stakeholders," she said. "Even though the main launch happened in Mbombela, this local launch matters. Every court matters. Every region must feel included,." she said.
Speaking about her own experience with the system, she added:
"I must note that I am not a slow learner, I learned the Court Online system in a short period. It is easy to use, and the support we’ve received in Middelburg has helped a lot."
The new system is designed to simplify how documents are managed, reduce the risks of misplaced files, and ease pressure on physical storage space. For court users—whether they are litigants, attorneys, or court staff, this means documents can now be submitted online without travelling to the court building.
Judge President Mphahlele was direct about the need to prepare for occasional challenges:
"We know that digital systems are not perfect. But we’ve trained our registrars and clerks, and we’ve set up help desks to assist court users throughout the day."
Court champions have been assigned to support legal practitioners and ensure that questions are answered quickly. According to Judge President Mphahlele, no requests for refresher training have been received to date, indicating that most users are finding the system manageable.
She closed with a call to action:
"Please use the system and help us shift from physical to digital filing. The more people use it, the better it works."
Although Middelburg is the last region in Mpumalanga to begin using Court Online, Judge President Mphahlele was clear that this is not about catching up it’s about getting it right.
"We are moving away from paper. Court Online is not just a system it is a way to manage our work better. We are ready."
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