- No notices for April 2024
- No Notices for May 2024
- No Notices for June 2024
Welcome to the Sheriff Palm Ridge
On 01 September 2017 the previous" Sheriff Alberton" had its name changed and became "Sheriff Palm Ridge". The name change coincided with the appointment of a new Sheriff in Alberton, Mr Ian Burton, and is now known as "Ian Burton, Sheriff Palm Ridge, High and Lower Courts". Sheriff Palm Ridge attends to the Service and Execution of both High and Mag Court processes but not limited to only those two arms of the Justice System. The Sheriff's profession is an important arm of the administration of Justice in South Africa, without it, justice would grind to a halt.
A Sheriff is appointed to Serve or Execute all documents issued by a Court, these include Summonses, Notices, Warrants and Court Order to mention but a few. To give you further peace of mind a Sheriff also carries a valid identification card issued by the SABFS at all times and is able to produce it on request.
The department encourages all citizens to cooperate in situations when dealing with Sheriffs.
Where does the Sheriff fit in?
"The Sheriff's position is not a new one - if one looks at its origins, the Sheriff was initially a representative of the King of England. A history of the Sheriff's profession tells us the word Sheriff is a joining of the term "shire" and "reeve". The term in old English, designated a royal official responsible for keeping the peace ("reeve") throughout a shire or county on behalf of the King. The presence of the Sheriff is well-documented, in fact, since the time of the Saxons.
Deputy Sheriffs are also not new. King Alfred, who was King of Wessex England, in 1871 AD, in the interest of the better administration of justice, allowed his Sheriffs to have Deputies. The Sheriff was an unpaid position and the Sheriff's had to pay the King a yearly sum to keep their offices. The Sheriff's usually made far more from their various duties administering the shires, such as collecting taxes, than the crown asked for, so they split the profit. The Sheriffs have been important role-players for centuries and they continue to be till this very day.
Therefore, the role and continuous development of the Sheriff's profession, within the ambit of our Constitution, is extremely important." (Dep. Minister Hon JH Jeffery, 2020)
Who is the Sheriff?
The Sheriff is an impartial and independent official of the court appointed by the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development.Who regulates the Sheriff?
Sheriffs operate independently within a specific Magisterial district or area - they are private businesspeople. Their service is monitored by the South African Board for Sheriffs. It is the Board's job to ensure that Sheriff's deliver Court documents in a compassionate and professional manner as per their Code of Conduct.What must you do if the Sheriff comes to your home or work?
- Do not hide.- Ask for proof of identification
- Sheriffs ID Card.
- Listen carefully to the Sheriff's instructions.
- Be sure to understand what you must do next.
- You usually have five (5) days to act, don't delay.
- If you can meet the requirements of the order immediately, do so as this will stop further proceedings.
- Do not interfere with the Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff from performing their duties.
- Do not give false or misleading information.
- Remember, the Sheriff acts under Orders from the Court. If you do not follow the instructions, you may be liable for prosecution and further costs.
Important points to remember!
- Only a Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff may demand payment or attached goods or money in terms of a Warrant or order of court.- Debt collections do not work under the authority of the court and are not allowed to attach or remove your goods.
- Make sure you get a receipt for any monies paid to the Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff, and your signature or mark are recorded on both the original and copies of documents.
- Keep a copy of the document as proof
- If you were not home when the Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff visited your home, find out what you must do next.
- Do not ignore any documents, notes or messages left for you by the Sheriff.
- Take immediate action, additional visits only add to the cost.
