The promise and pitfalls of digitising South Africa's Master of the High Court

SOUTH Africa’s Master of the High Court is inching towards digital modernisation, but despite early signals of progress, the journey remains uneven, and for many families navigating deceased estates, frustratingly slow.

- DIEKETSENG MALEKE

After years of dysfunction and a near standstill at six Master's Offices due to vacant leadership posts, the Department of Justice’s 2023 rollout of a new online portal seemed like a long-overdue shift.

Yet, as practitioners and families alike quickly discovered, digitisation has not automatically translated into delivery.

Stacy Rouchos, managing director of Bannister Trust and estate planning advisor to Hobbs Sinclair Advisory, says that while the portal represents a step forward, it falls short of transforming estate administration in a meaningful way.

“The digital system makes it easier to access and submit documentation, which is a win,” Rouchos acknowledges. “But in practical terms, we’re still seeing turnaround times for Letters of Executorship stretch to six weeks or more, far beyond the Department's stated 21-working-day target.”