E-Alert: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) (Temporary Provisions) Act No. 17 of 2021
On 23rd August 2021, the Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19) (Temporary Provisions) Act (the “Act”) was passed into law. In this e-alert, senior members of the firm’s Dispute Resolution department provide an overview of the salient provisions of this new legislative enactment.
What is the main purpose of the Act?
To make temporary provisions:
• to provide relief to persons who are unable to comply with prescribed time periods set out in law due to Covid-19 circumstances;
• to assign alternative courts where a court is unable to function due to Covid-19 circumstances; and
• to conduct court proceedings using remote communication technology.
What is the operative period of the Act?
The provisions of the Act will be operative for a period of 2 years from 1st March 2020, with the ability for the Minister to extend the same for a period not exceeding a further 2 years (i.e., it will be operative from 1st March 2020 to 28th February 2022, with the ability to be further extended). However, the maximum period of extension cannot be beyond 28th February 2024.
