Limpopo courts are battling a surprising divorce backlog, to the extent that a plan has been devised to fast-track annulments of more than 11 000 failed marriages in the province.

According to a report in The Mercury, Jakkie Wessels, provincial president for regional courts, issued a memo to lawyers and all stakeholders announcing a 100 Days Divorce Backlog Project.

‘The Limpopo Regional Court civil seats together with the representatives of the major stakeholders had agreed to a 100 Days Divorce Backlog Project ending on 14 December, due to the huge volume of outstanding divorce cases on the court rolls,’ Wessels said in the memo.

The data Wessels released said there were a total of 11 788 outstanding cases in the Limpopo divorce courts by late September, 104 of which were finalised during the month.

With a whopping 4 198 cases, Polokwane had the highest number of outstanding divorce cases. The second highest unfinalised cases were in Tzaneen, with 2 149.

The 100-days project is intended to fast track opposed and unopposed divorces.

Opposed divorce applications that could possibly require mediation would also be attended to with speed. Wessels called on lawyers to play their part to ensure matters in Limpopo were finalised.

Lawyers should ‘consider virtual hearings, especially if it will assist their clients who might not be in the province or live near the civil seat to fast track the hearing,’ she advised.

Full report in The Mercury (subscription needed)