Today is not a court day (weekend); the counts below still run from today. Every trigger the engine knows, computed from today, with the rule beside each date. This page changes every day; each trigger also has its own page that works from any date.
| Trigger | Then | By |
|---|---|---|
| Summons served — High Court | Notice of intention to defend due+10 court days · Uniform Rule 19(1) | Fri 30 Oct 2026 |
| Default judgment may be applied for if no notice to defend+1 court day · Uniform Rule 31(5)(a) | Mon 2 Nov 2026 | |
| Plea due if the notice to defend arrives on its last day+20 court days · Uniform Rule 22(1) | Mon 30 Nov 2026 | |
| Simple summons served — High Court | Notice of intention to defend due+10 court days · Uniform Rule 19(1) | Fri 30 Oct 2026 |
| Declaration due (plaintiff) if the notice to defend arrives on its last day+15 court days · Uniform Rule 20(1) | Mon 23 Nov 2026 | |
| Plea due, 20 court days after the declaration+20 court days · Uniform Rule 22(1) | Tue 22 Dec 2026 | |
| Notice of intention to defend delivered — High Court | Plea or exception due+20 court days · Uniform Rule 22(1) | Mon 16 Nov 2026 |
| Replication due if the plea arrives on its last day+15 court days · Uniform Rule 25(1) | Mon 7 Dec 2026 | |
| Plea delivered — High Court | Replication due+15 court days · Uniform Rule 25(1) | Mon 9 Nov 2026 |
| Pleadings close if no replication is delivered; Rule 35(1) discovery may then be demanded+15 court days · Uniform Rule 29(1)(b), 35(1) | Mon 9 Nov 2026 | |
| Summary judgment application due, if it is to be sought+15 court days · Uniform Rule 32(2)(a) | Mon 9 Nov 2026 | |
| Irregular step taken by the other side — High Court | Notice affording the other side ten days to remove the cause of complaint due+10 court days · Uniform Rule 30(2)(b) | Fri 30 Oct 2026 |
| Other side's last day to remove the cause of complaint+10 court days · Uniform Rule 30(2)(b) | Mon 16 Nov 2026 | |
| Rule 30 application to set the step aside due+15 court days · Uniform Rule 30(2)(c) | Mon 7 Dec 2026 | |
| Vague and embarrassing pleading received — High Court | Rule 23(1) notice to remove the cause of complaint due+10 court days · Uniform Rule 23(1) | Fri 30 Oct 2026 |
| Other side's last day to remove the cause of complaint+15 court days · Uniform Rule 23(1) | Mon 23 Nov 2026 | |
| Exception due+10 court days · Uniform Rule 23(1) | Mon 7 Dec 2026 | |
| Notice of bar served — High Court | Pleading must be delivered or the party is ipso facto barred+5 court days · Uniform Rule 26 | Fri 23 Oct 2026 |
| Rule 35(1) discovery notice served | Discovery affidavit due+20 court days · Uniform Rule 35(1) | Mon 16 Nov 2026 |
| Rule 35(3) notice to discover further documents served | Further documents or an affidavit that none exist due+10 court days · Uniform Rule 35(3) | Fri 30 Oct 2026 |
| Trial date allocated — High Court (counts backwards) | Pre-trial conference must be held by−42 days · Uniform Rule 37(4): not later than six weeks before trialFalls on a weekend. If the applicable rule excludes a last day that is not a court day, the next court day is Monday 7 September 2026. | Sat 5 Sep 2026 |
| Notice of intention to call an expert due by−15 court days · Uniform Rule 36(9)(a) | Mon 28 Sep 2026 | |
| Expert summary due by−10 court days · Uniform Rule 36(9)(b) | Mon 5 Oct 2026 |
| Trigger | Then | By |
|---|---|---|
| Notice of motion served (ordinary application) | Earliest date the notice may require a notice of intention to oppose+5 court days · Uniform Rule 6(5)(d)(i) | Fri 23 Oct 2026 |
| Answering affidavit due if the notice to oppose arrives on its last day+15 court days · Uniform Rule 6(5)(d)(ii) | Mon 16 Nov 2026 | |
| Replying affidavit due if the answer arrives on its last day+10 court days · Uniform Rule 6(5)(e) | Mon 30 Nov 2026 | |
| Answering affidavit delivered | Replying affidavit due+10 court days · Uniform Rule 6(5)(e) | Fri 30 Oct 2026 |
| Apply for a hearing date within five court days of the reply+5 court days · Uniform Rule 6(5)(f) | Mon 9 Nov 2026 |
| Trigger | Then | By |
|---|---|---|
| Judgment or order granted — High Court | Application for leave to appeal due+15 court days · Uniform Rule 49(1)(b) | Mon 9 Nov 2026 |
| Rescission of a default judgment: 20 court days from knowledge of it (earliest case shown)+20 court days · Uniform Rule 31(2)(b) | Mon 16 Nov 2026 | |
| Leave to appeal granted — to the full court | Notice of appeal due+20 court days · Uniform Rule 49(2) | Mon 16 Nov 2026 |
| Apply for a hearing date within 60 days of the notice of appeal or the appeal lapses+60 court days · Uniform Rule 49(6)(a) | Thu 11 Feb 2027 | |
| Leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal granted | Notice of appeal to be lodged with the registrar+1 month · SCA Rule 7(1) | Tue 17 Nov 2026 |
| Record to be lodged within three months of the notice of appeal+3 months · SCA Rule 8(1) | Wed 17 Feb 2027 |
| Trigger | Then | By |
|---|---|---|
| Summons served — Magistrate's Court | Notice of intention to defend due+10 court days · Magistrates' Courts Rule 13(1) | Fri 30 Oct 2026 |
| Default judgment may be requested if no notice to defend+1 court day · Magistrates' Courts Rule 12(1) | Mon 2 Nov 2026 | |
| Plea due if the notice to defend arrives on its last day+20 court days · Magistrates' Courts Rule 17(1) | Mon 30 Nov 2026 | |
| Notice of intention to defend delivered — Magistrate's Court | Plea due+20 court days · Magistrates' Courts Rule 17(1) | Mon 16 Nov 2026 |
| Trigger | Then | By |
|---|---|---|
| Section 129 notice delivered to the consumer (National Credit Act) | Earliest day proceedings may be instituted+10 business days · National Credit Act 34 of 2005, s130(1)(a) | Fri 30 Oct 2026 |
| Debt against an organ of state became due | Written notice of intended legal proceedings must be served by+6 months · Institution of Legal Proceedings against certain Organs of State Act 40 of 2002, s3(2)(a)Falls on a weekend. Where the rule allows, the next court day is Monday 19 April 2027; do not rely on it without checking. | Sat 17 Apr 2027 |
| Administrative decision made known (PAJA review) | Review application due+180 days · Promotion of Administrative Justice Act 3 of 2000, s7(1) | Thu 15 Apr 2027 |
| Motor accident (Road Accident Fund claim) | Lodge with the Fund by (unidentified driver)+24 months · RAF Regulations, reg 2(1) | Tue 17 Oct 2028 |
| Lodge with the Fund by (identified driver)+36 months · Road Accident Fund Act 56 of 1996, s23(1) | Wed 17 Oct 2029 | |
| RAF claim lodged with the Fund | Earliest day summons may be served on the Fund+120 days · Road Accident Fund Act 56 of 1996, s24(6)Falls on a weekend. If the applicable rule excludes a last day that is not a court day, the next court day is Monday 15 February 2027. | Sun 14 Feb 2027 |
| Trigger | Then | By |
|---|---|---|
| CCMA arbitration award served (review) | Review application due in the Labour Court+42 days · Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995, s145(1)Falls on a weekend. If the applicable rule excludes a last day that is not a court day, the next court day is Monday 30 November 2026. | Sat 28 Nov 2026 |
| Employee dismissed (CCMA referral) | Internal target: LRA 7.11 referral drafted and signed+20 days · Firm practice | Fri 6 Nov 2026 |
| CCMA referral due+30 days · Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995, s191(1)(b)(i) | Mon 16 Nov 2026 |
A working aid computed from the published rules, not legal advice. Confirm against the rule and diarise with a margin. The weekly edition carries the same for Monday, every Monday, by email if you ask.