Court Reporting in South Africa

Allowing enough time (roughly between 4-6 weeks is ideal) for scheduling depositions in South Africa is extremely important because of the logistics associated with the scheduling and planning processes. However, with teams nearby, we are often able to cover last-minute requests.

Counsel will determine whether their witness is willing to be deposed. If so, both parties can agree to stipulate the oath and begin the process of setting up the deposition.

South Africa is a party to The Hague Evidence Convention; however, prior permission for taking depositions of citizens of South Africa is not required.  If you need assistance, contact the Planet Depos International Scheduling Department.

1. Select the deposition services needed:
   • U.S.-trained court reporter
   • U.S.-trained legal videographer
   • Any language interpreter
2. What is the location of the deposition in South Africa?
   • Do you need Planet Depos to reserve a conference room for you?
3. If not participating in person, do you require videoconferencing services? (If not, please skip to the next item on the checklist).
   • Do you need a location in South Africa?
   • Will you need a location in the United States?
   • Can you attend from your firm’s videoconference suite?
   • Ask about Planet Depos’ Mobile Videoconferencing capabilities!
   • Document Production
     • Do you need assistance with exhibit printing?
4. Select your deposition date
   • Start time
   • End time
5. Visa Restrictions:
   • There is no visa required for travel to South Africa at this time if visiting for a period of 90 days or less; however, your passport must be valid for 30 days beyond your intended period of stay. It is highly recommended that you have at least 6-months’ validity past the point of your return to the U.S. on your passport for any international travel.  For more information, please consult the U.S. State Department or contact Planet Depos’ International Scheduling Department.
6. Make travel arrangements
   • Flight
   • Lodging
     • Contact Planet Depos for information about corporate discounts with our partner hotels
   • Car rental
7. Send a protective order to Planet Depos for representatives to sign (if applicable)
8. Have you filled out the Planet Depos Standing Order Form? It’s an easy process that takes less than 60 seconds and will let us know:
   • Transcript turnaround time (regular or expedited)
   • Who should receive the Rough ASCII and final transcript
   • The number of realtime laptops that are needed
   • Preferred video format (DVD, MPEG1, Loaded DVD, Synchronized Viewer)
9. Send out Notice of Deposition to all counsel, your witness, and Planet Depos
10. Send prep materials to Planet Depos for reporter’s deposition preparation:
    • Notice of deposition
    • Complaint
    • Subpoena
    • Previous transcript(s)
    • Word index
11. Obtain emergency contact information for Planet Depos representatives
12. Provide emergency contact information of counsel

Travel safely to South Africa and contact Planet Depos with any questions once you’ve arrived!

Did you know?  There are eleven official names of South Africa, one in each of its eleven official languages.

The International Team at Planet Depos regularly handles deposition travel to South Africa and is happy to share our top travel tips.

With teams living on the ground in nearby Europe, Planet Depos offers 24/7 assistance for all of your deposition needs in South Africa. Our teams have been covering depositions in South Africa for over 15 years, and are therefore considered one of the leading experts in anything pertaining to covering depositions there. We will be more than happy to share this expertise and guide you through the scheduling process, travel and document assistance in South Africa.

Entry Requirements for South Africa

There are no special visas (tourist or business) required to enter South Africa for a stay of less than 90 days. A passport valid for at least 30 days past your planned departure date from South Africa is required Planet Depos does recommend traveling with at least 6 months validity on your passport, however. You will need 2 fully blank visa pages to visit South Africa. You will also need to check any countries you pass through to determine if a separate transit visa is required, as there are not many direct flights to South Africa from the U.S.

For more information, you can also contact the South Africa Embassy (3051 Massachusetts Ave NW Washington DC 20008)

South African Embassy

Flying to South Africa

There are two major international airports in South Africa:

• R. Tambo International in Johannesburg Airport (JNB)
• Cape Town International Airport in Cape Town (CPT)

Airlines offering direct flights to South Africa from the U.S. include:

• United
• South African Airways
• Jet Blue

Travel in South Africa

For updated travel alerts and information, please visit the State Department’s webpage:

South Africa Information

You can also download the SmartTravel App for your smartphone created by the U.S. Department of State.

Staying in South Africa

There are several locations where U.S. depositions may be taken in South Africa. For example, major metropolis Johannesburg offers many luxury hotels to choose from for your lodging and conference room needs. We are more than happy to assist you with your conference room needs and hotel recommendations.

Medical Information for South Africa

South Africa has high-quality medical facilities in urban areas, but limited elsewhere. For a list of medical facilities and English-speaking doctors in South Africa, please visit:

U.S. Embassy – South Africa

For updated health information, including health travel alerts and immunizations, please visit South Africa specific website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at:

CDC – South Africa

Money Matters

South Africa uses the South African Rand as its currency. ATMs are available in all major cities (be alert when using ATMs, and politely refuse help, as this is a common scam), and major credit cards are usually accepted. Master Card and Visa are preferred.

For up-to-date information on the local conversion rate, please visit a reputable currency converter website such as http://www.oanda.com/currency/converter/ which also offers an app for smartphones.

Weather

South Africa’s seasons are the opposite of the U.S. seasons. Winter runs May to August, with lower temperatures, but snow is rare. Spring follows from September to November with temperatures warming, and November to March sees frequent heavy tropical rains and lots of heat. April and May are the most temperate months, the autumn of South Africa.

Important Websites and Resources

Embassy of the United States in South Africa:

U.S. Embassy – South Africa

App Store for your iPhone:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/genre/ios-travel/id6003?mt=8

App Store for your Android:

https://play.google.com/store/apps?hl=en

Interesting Fact about South Africa

The first human heart transplant was performed in Cape Town in 1967.