The dates that move this week, computed from the Uniform Rules, the Magistrates' Courts Rules, the Prescription Act and the Public Holidays Act by the same engine that runs AttorneyOS. Nothing here is written by hand; every line shows its rule. Verify against the file before you rely on it.
The days a court-day count skips (Uniform Rule 1; Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994, including the Sunday rule).
| Date | Holiday | When |
|---|---|---|
| Wed 4 Nov 2026 | Local government elections | In 4 weeks |
A debt that arose in the week shown prescribes this week. The last safe day to serve is the day before.
| Arose between | Claim | Last safe day |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Oct 2023 – 9 Oct 2023 | Contract, delict or any other debt (general rule)3 years · Prescription Act s 11(d) | Thu 8 Oct 2026 |
| 5 Oct 2023 – 9 Oct 2023 | Road Accident Fund claim, driver or owner identified3 years · RAF Act s 23(1) | Thu 8 Oct 2026 |
| 5 Oct 2024 – 9 Oct 2024 | Road Accident Fund claim, hit-and-run (driver and owner unidentified)2 years · RAF Regulations | Thu 8 Oct 2026 |
| 5 Oct 2020 – 9 Oct 2020 | Bill of exchange, cheque, promissory note or notarial contract6 years · Prescription Act s 11(c) | Thu 8 Oct 2026 |
The first two steps each trigger sets running, counted in court days where the rule says court days, skipping the holidays above. The note shows where a last day fell on a day that is not a court day.
| Trigger | Then | By |
|---|---|---|
| Summons served — High CourtHigh Court action | Notice of intention to defend due+10 court days · Uniform Rule 19(1) | Mon 19 Oct 2026 |
| Default judgment may be applied for if no notice to defend+1 court day · Uniform Rule 31(5)(a) | Tue 20 Oct 2026 | |
| Summons served — Magistrate's CourtMagistrate's Court | Notice of intention to defend due+10 court days · Magistrates' Courts Rule 13(1) | Mon 19 Oct 2026 |
| Default judgment may be requested if no notice to defend+1 court day · Magistrates' Courts Rule 12(1) | Tue 20 Oct 2026 | |
| Notice of motion served (ordinary application)High Court application | Earliest date the notice may require a notice of intention to oppose+5 court days · Uniform Rule 6(5)(d)(i) | Mon 12 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 2 Nov 2026 | |
| Notice of bar served — High CourtHigh Court action | Pleading must be delivered or the party is ipso facto barred+5 court days · Uniform Rule 26 | Mon 12 Oct 2026 |
| Judgment or order granted — High CourtAppeals and rescission | Application for leave to appeal due+15 court days · Uniform Rule 49(1)(b) | Mon 26 Oct 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 2 Nov 2026 | |
| Section 129 notice delivered to the consumer (National Credit Act)Statutory notices | Earliest day proceedings may be instituted+10 business days · National Credit Act 34 of 2005, s130(1)(a) | Mon 19 Oct 2026 |
| Employee dismissed (CCMA referral)Labour | Internal target: LRA 7.11 referral drafted and signed+20 days · Firm practiceFalls on a weekend. If the applicable rule excludes a last day that is not a court day, the next court day is Monday 26 October 2026. | Sun 25 Oct 2026 |
| CCMA referral due+30 days · Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995, s191(1)(b)(i)Falls on a public holiday (Local government elections). If the applicable rule excludes a last day that is not a court day, the next court day is Thursday 5 November 2026. | Wed 4 Nov 2026 | |
| CCMA arbitration award served (review)Labour | Review application due in the Labour Court+42 days · Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995, s145(1) | Mon 16 Nov 2026 |
| Administrative decision made known (PAJA review)Statutory notices | Review application due+180 days · Promotion of Administrative Justice Act 3 of 2000, s7(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 5 April 2027. | Sat 3 Apr 2027 |
| Debt against an organ of state became dueStatutory notices | 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) | Mon 5 Apr 2027 |
Another date, another trigger: the court days calculator and the prescription calculator run the same engine for your own dates.
The dates that do not depend on any file.
| By | What |
|---|---|
| Sat 31 Oct 2026 | Trust account reconciliation for September 2026The Council requires the section 86 trust account reconciled every month; the auditor looks for each one. |
| Thu 31 Dec 2026 | Fidelity Fund certificates lapseEvery practising attorney needs one, and it lapses on 31 December. Renewal is open in the last quarter. |
| Thu 31 Dec 2026 | Continuing professional development pointsThe year's points must be earned by 31 December. |
One email a week, the week's dates and nothing else. One-click unsubscribe on every one. No sales calls.
Firms on AttorneyOS get these dates on their own files: the morning brief carries each one against the matter it belongs to.
From the Supreme Court of Appeal's list and the Constitutional Court's judgment pages, the ones that touch how a practice runs its files first. Each links to the court's own summary.