How the Master’s Office is digitising trust registration

THE Master’s Office has faced significant criticism in the media over the past few years due to frustrations with service delivery issues. As a 350-year-old institution, with its first trust recorded in 1833, the Master’s Office is under increasing pressure to adapt to societal changes and a growing client base while managing its manual systems.

- PHIA VAN DER SPUY

For example, following a court case in late 2002, the Master was tasked with administering intestate estates of black South Africans for the first time, and after another court case in late 2004, the Master was assigned to administer estates distributed under customary law.

Following legislative changes in 2022, after the Financial Action Task Force found several issues - including that South Africa did not adequately track the “beneficial owners” of trusts - the Master rapidly had to transition from a “post box” to a digital record-keeper and register holder. As part of its modernisation process, the Master implemented its Online Registration System for Deceased Estates in 2023. After implementing the Trust Online Registration System, the Master plans to digitise its other products and services, such as liquidations, the guardians’ fund, curators, and tutors. The elimination of ‘walk-ins’ will ultimately result in a reduction of corruption and increased efficiency.

What will the system be able to do?

The initial functionality of the online portal includes the following:

@ Profile registration — use this link https://dojonline.justice.gov.za/login. First, one has to register as an individual, after which one can create an entity or service provider profile under such an individual's profile.

@ Inter vivos trust registration. A QR-coded Letters of Authority will be issued.

@ Inter vivos trust amendments, including trustee changes and trust detail changes. A new QR-coded Let-

ters of Authority will be issued, cancelling the previous Letters of Authority.

Inter vivos trust termination