ARTICLES
Explore a collection of insightful articles authored by some of our team members here.
Private sector steps in amid ‘despicable conditions’ at Johannesburg Master’s Office
A blown substation has once again left the Johannesburg Master’s Office in darkness for several days, increasing the backlog with the filing of deceased estates, finalising trusts, and overseeing the administration of trusts.
Johannesburg Master’s Office working conditions
John chats to Katherine Gascoigne, Treasurer and the Head of the Masters Office portfolio for the Johannesburg Attorneys Association on the latest power failure at the Johannesburg Master's been the last straw for the Association. They have taken the bull by the horns and have reached out to their membership to assist financially with the purchase of a generator.
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Billions of rands tied up in deceased and insolvent estates
Katherine Gascoigne, Senior Associate at Gascoigne Randon & Associates, joined SAfm’s Market Update to discuss the significant issue of billions of rands tied up in deceased and insolvent estates in South Africa.
She shared her expertise on the challenges surrounding these estates and the impact this has on beneficiaries and the broader financial landscape.
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The winding up of estates in SA is in shambles
The entire system dealing with deceased and insolvency estates is broken. Most of the finger-pointing is at the Master of the High Court, though that is but the tip of the iceberg.
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Billions of rands are tied up in deceased and insolvent estates because of the brokenness of government entities such as the Government Printing Works, the Department of Home Affairs, the Department of Justice (responsible for the master’s offices), and the South African Revenue Service (Sars).
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Johannesburg Master’s Office and the Johannesburg Attorneys Association hold successful Wills Week
During National Wills Week this September, the Johannesburg Master’s Office, the Johannesburg Attorneys Association, and other legal groups partnered to provide free will drafting services across several locations, helping hundreds of people with essential legal support. Thanks to their joint effort, over 375 wills were prepared for the community, far surpassing previous years.
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Read the full article to learn more about this initiative and its impact.