Solidarity demands intervention in crisis at offices of the Master of the High Court

The Solidarity Law Network demands urgent intervention at offices of the Master of the High Court to address the increasing challenges related to administration and service delivery, and the poor state of administrative systems and infrastructure at offices across the country. In a letter addressed to the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, as well as to the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, the Master of the High Court and Chief Justice Mandisa Maya, the challenges legal practitioners are experiencing in their interaction with Master’s Offices are clearly emphasised. This series of serious challenges include:

• Prolonged and inexplicable delays in dealing with estate processes and other matters master’s offices have to manage. These delays are causing major frustration as well as financial loss for clients and legal practitioners.
• Poor communication with legal practitioners and cooperation that is lacking from Master’s Offices, leading to misunderstandings, coordination problems and a lack of transparency in dealing with cases.
• A shortage of enough and well-trained staff, resulting in the complex nature and volume of cases not being dealt with appropriately which further undermines the quality of service delivery.
• A general lack of modern technological support and digital systems, which slows the process unnecessarily and complicates it administratively.

The state of infrastructure at Master’s Offices buildings is also cause for concern, as is the case at the Johannesburg Master’s Office, among others. In its letter, Solidarity makes a series of demands and recommendations to the relevant authorities to improve the situation, including:

• The immediate appointment of sufficiently qualified staff at Master’s Offices to effectively manage current backlogs and workload;
• The implementation of clear and meaningful procedures and communication protocols to improve collaboration with legal practitioners;
• The use of digital technology and automation to fast-track processes, to increase transparency and reduce administrative errors; and
• A commitment to the regular monitoring of and reporting on the improvement of service delivery at Master’s Offices.

According to Emil Glas, organiser of the Solidarity Law Network, the current situation at Master’s Offices is a source of national concern, which is increasingly having more consequences. “The current situation at Master’s Offices not only impedes the work of legal practitioners but also affects the rights and interests of ordinary South Africans who rely on the fair and timeous handling of their cases. “Solidarity expects the authorities to address these issues with the required urgency and to implement the necessary structural improvements,” Glass said.   The Solidarity Law Network considers it its duty to ensure that its members’ rights are protected, and to this end a legal system that functions effectively, transparently and fairly is demanded in the interests of all South Africans.