Until recently, South Africa had no statute dedicated to class actions. Courts developed the framework over the past two decades. From 19 September 2025, amendments to the Uniform Rules of Court introduced a dedicated procedure for certifying and managing class actions. These rules are procedural. The substantive requirements remain in the case law. This publication explains both the governing principles and the procedure.
Contents:
- Why class actions should matter
- History of class actions in South Africa
- Benefits of class actions
- The High Court rules on class actions
- Certification: the gateway
- Running the class action after certification
- Funding and costs
- Prescription
- A defendant’s options
Read the full document here