Many South African litigants harm their cases by missing deadlines, acting emotionally, or misunderstanding court procedures. Knowing these common litigation mistakes — and how an attorney can help prevent them — can protect your rights and improve your outcomes.
Alternative dispute resolution offers flexible, often faster ways to resolve disputes outside of court, while court litigation follows a formal, rule-driven process governed by strict legal procedures. Each option has clear benefits and drawbacks depending on the nature of the dispute.
Civil litigation in South Africa is the court-based process used to resolve non-criminal disputes between individuals or organisations, in which one party seeks compensation or the enforcement of a legal right rather than criminal punishment.