East London Magistrates Court is the main seat of the Buffalo City district and is one of the few courts that publishes two separate after hours numbers for domestic violence applications.
Official contact channels
- Court: 043 702 8000
- Domestic violence after hours: 083 503 9631
- Domestic violence after hours, second line: 073 466 9035
Services and responsibilities
As the main seat it administers the district and handles criminal and civil cases, maintenance, domestic violence, childrens court and child justice matters, sexual offences and small claims. Mdantsane, on 043 708 5000, is a separate court in the same district.
Office and address information
The court is at 4 Buffalo Street, East London, 5200, with post to Private Bag X9010 at the same code.
Applications and escalation
Two after hours numbers means a second chance when the first is not answered, which matters for a protection order application outside office hours. Try both before going to a police station. The numbers are for urgent applications only, not for general enquiries.
Sources
- justice.gov.za/contact/lowercourts_full.html, the Department of Justice lower courts directory, read 2 September 2026.