Empangeni is the main seat of the King Cetshwayo district, which means several other courts are administered from it and post to it. Knowing which court in the group handles a matter usually matters more than the Empangeni number itself.
Official contact channels
- Empangeni Magistrate Court, the main seat: 035 772 1711
- Esikhawini Magistrate Court: 035 796 0122
- Ngwelezane branch court: 035 794 2306
- Richards Bay branch court: 035 789 0183
Services and responsibilities
Empangeni hears its own matters and also sits at KwaMbonambi. Esikhawini, also spelled Esikhaleni, is a separate magistrate court. Ngwelezane, also called Enseleni, and Richards Bay are branch courts administered from Empangeni.
Office and address information
Three of the four courts post to an Empangeni address rather than to their own towns: Ngwelezane to Empangeni Station 3910 and Richards Bay to Empangeni 3880. Only Esikhawini has a postal address in its own name.
Applications and escalation
If a file is not at the court you expected, Empangeni is where to ask, because records for the branch courts are administered there. All four share the 035 code, so read the full number before dialling.
Sources
- justice.gov.za/contact/lowercourts_full.html, the Department of Justice lower courts directory, read 2 September 2026.