Maximum Claimable
The most you can claim, and why a claim can't be split.
The current limit
From 1 August 2026, the most you can claim in the Small Claims Court is R30 000.
As from 1st November, 2010, the small claims maximum increases from R7000 to R12000. The present maximum claimable is R12000, and may not be split up to recover a higher sum. Thus, if X owes Y R13000, the claim may not be split into two claims of R7000 and R6000. If Y chooses the Small Claims Court, he will have to abandon the excess R1000, and may not recover the abandoned sum in a different court.
Note from the editors
Bert wrote this when the limit was R12 000. It was later raised to R15 000 (April 2014), to R20 000 (1 March 2019) and to R30 000 (1 August 2026). The principle is unchanged: a claim may not be split to get under the limit. For example, if someone owes you R31 000, you can claim R30 000 in the Small Claims Court, but you give up the other R1 000.