Maintenance at East London is a function of the magistrate court, which is the main seat of the Buffalo City district and publishes two after hours numbers for domestic violence.
Local channels
- East London Magistrates Court: 043 702 8000
Address
The court is at 4 Buffalo Street, East London, 5200, with post to Private Bag X9010 at the same code.
Services at this location
Three different things are often called a maintenance matter and they follow different routes. Applying for a first order starts a new enquiry. Varying an existing order requires showing that circumstances have changed since it was made. Enforcing an order that is not being paid is a separate complaint about arrears. Say which you need when you arrive, because they are handled differently.
Parent organisation
Buffalo City has more courts than most districts: Mdantsane on 043 708 5000, Zwelitsha on 040 658 0204 and the King Williams Town court at Qonce on 043 642 3548 all exercise the same functions for their own areas. A matter belongs to the court for the area where the respondent lives or works.
Sources
- justice.gov.za/contact/lowercourts_full.html, the Department of Justice lower courts directory, read 2 September 2026.