Protection From Harassment Order

You are being stalked, harassed, threatened or followed — including by WhatsApp, email, social media or surveillance.

Forum: Magistrate's Court (where you live or where the harassment happened) — Protection from Harassment Act 17 of 2011 · Your case file: R199 · preview free

How this works

List the incidents in date order with evidence (screenshots, messages, witnesses).
Download your signed Form 2 affidavit.
Go to the Magistrate's Court (you may go where you live OR where the harassment occurred). The clerk MUST assist you — no fee.
The court can grant an INTERIM order the same day (s6) if immediate harm is shown, plus a suspended final order; the respondent is served and can oppose at the return date.

The Protection from Harassment Act gives you a court order — quickly, free, and without a lawyer — telling the harasser to stop, including stopping electronic harassment and surveillance. Breach is a criminal offence (s17(1)) and you can claim damages (s12). This pack drafts your s2 application (the 'Form 2' affidavit).

Your full name

Contact number

Email (for your receipt) (optional)

Your address (the court may keep it confidential from the respondent — ask the clerk)

Name of the person harassing you (write 'unknown person' and describe them in Facts if needed)

Their address (or 'unknown' — the sheriff can still trace via cell number)

Date the harassment started

Date of the most recent incident

Where does it happen? Tick all.

In person

Phone calls

WhatsApp/SMS

Social media (Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok)

Following / appearing at your home or work

Surveillance / tracking

Threats to publish images or information

The incidents, IN DATE ORDER, most serious last. Quote the actual messages where you can.

How is it affecting you? (fear, sleep, work, moving home, your children)

What must the order say? e.g. no contact within 100m, no messages, surrender weapons, stop publishing images

Your answers are used only to draft your case file on our own servers. We never sell or share them (POPIA-compliant — and we can draft your POPIA complaint too).

No lawyers. No jargon. Citations included.