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.
The latest power failure has been the last straw for the Johannesburg Attorneys Association (JAA). They have taken the bull by the horns and have reached out to their membership to assist financially with the purchase of a generator.
Members of JAA said in a WhatsApp chat group they had to help. It is cold, people have no access to the internet, and they cannot print.
Katherine Gascoigne, head of the Master's Office committee at the JAA, says the situation is intolerable.
'It is despicable that people are left to work in such conditions. No wonder the staff becomes despondent. They cannot charge their phones, laptops or even switch on a kettle for coffee or tea,' adds Gascoigne.
Read more 'AI already reshaping traditional job functions,' says Microsoft SA
The Fiduciary Institute of Southern Africa (Fisa) has joined the initiative and called for urgent private sector support to alleviate the dire situation at the Johannesburg Master's Office that has been without power for several days. Fisa CEO Louis van Vuren described the situation as 'untenable'.
ALSO READ: Master's offices left rudderless due to lack of … masters
'It would appear that the landlord of the rented Master's Office building has for years resisted installing back-up power supply, meaning that the office is subject to power outages beyond its control – in this case, a blown substation.'
Gascoigne says Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi is quite aware of the dire circumstances under which the staff are supposed to operate. The minister has been to the office and has herself been caught in a power outage while at the premises.
Once there is a power outage, the lifts don't operate and there is no lighting or heating.
Gascoigne says she has been whining about the situation for more than two years. Now they have to act. JAA has been in discussions to assist with the purchasing of a generator that will be sufficient to allow the busiest Master's Office in the country to keep the lights on.
The building is not owned by government, and it is unclear when the current term of the lease agreement comes to an end.
ALSO READ: The winding up of estates in SA is in shambles
Stepping in
Fisa added their voice and said it is inexplicable that the authorities are not taking the situation more seriously and doing all that is possible to assist staff who are trying their best under impossible conditions.
'It is clear that the private sector needs yet again to step in and support what is a civil service function,' says Van Vuren.
'Fisa has therefore taken the unprecedented step of approaching its members to consider making voluntary donations to assist with the purchasing of equipment for rechargeable lighting and mobile power stations for charging laptops, along with blankets and hot drinks.'
ALSO READ: Minister no longer visiting 'problematic' Masters Office – here's why
The Master's Office has in the past acknowledged the hardship caused by delays with the winding up of estates, the appointment of executors and the administration of trusts.
The delays hinder the transfer of assets such as properties, vehicles, or investments, which may be crucial for the financial stability or livelihood of the beneficiaries.
One of the immediate impacts is the financial hardship experienced by dependants and heirs who rely on the deceased's funds to meet their daily needs. In many cases, these funds are necessary to cover essential expenses such as school fees, medical costs, or even basic living costs.
This article was republished from Moneyweb. Read the original here.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
a day ago
- The South African
The new Woolworths Food Emporium is turning heads. Where is it?
For local foodies, the long wait is over. Woolworths has officially opened its doors to its Food Emporium. With this new flagship store, Woolies plans to usher in a fresh era of food retail focused on innovation, sustainability, and customer experience. The Food Emporium can be found at The Village Square in Durbanville, Cape Town. 'This new Food Emporium is a real step change for us,' Woolies Group CEO Roy Bagattini said. 'We are here to affirm our leadership in food retailing, redefinine the future of food shopping in a way that truly reflects who we are, and what we believe in.' The revamped store is designed to raise the bar in food shopping by offering an inspiring, seamless, and proudly-South African experience. 'Nothing in the new Woolworths Food Emporium is by chance,' added Woolworths Foods CEO Sam Ngumeni. 'The store is led by passionate Woolies staff and specialists, all of whom are committed to supporting and connecting with customers during their every visit.' The new Emporium at The Village Square is also centred around sustainability. This includes energy-efficient technology, waste reduction systems, and recyclable packaging. It is all part of Woolworths' vision to become one of the world's most responsible retailers. Florist Counter: Custom-made bouquets, wrapped by an on-site expert. Our Kitchen: A premium food counter offering crowd favourites, ready meals, and live cooking demos with tasters and shoppable ingredients. Fishmonger: A wider range of responsibly-sourced seafood, including fresh oysters, filleting, and prep services. Butcher Counter: Expanded meat selection including wagyu, with expert advice from the in-store butcher. Bakery & Patisserie: Paris-worthy pastries, artisanal breads, and bespoke gift boxes. Superior Pantry Experience: Divided into international cuisines (Italian, Mexican, and more) and designed to inspire home cooking. Confectionery Alcove: Regularly-updated displays of Woolies treats and party ideas. Wine Alcove: Curated local and international wines, with exclusive WCellar picks. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
2 days ago
- The South African
Could South Africa be ATM-free in a few years?
South Africa's cash landscape is changing fast – and the humble ATM may soon be obsolete. According to a recent assessment by MyBroadband , the country's major banks have collectively slashed over 8 000 ATMs from their networks over the last five years. This marks a steady retreat from physical money, with consumers opting for cards over cash. ATM numbers tell a story The Big Four – Standard Bank, Absa, FNB, and Nedbank – have all dramatically reduced their ATM footprints: Bank 2019 Latest figures Difference Absa 8 656 5 138 -3 518 FNB 5 780 4 770 -1 010 Nedbank 4 257 4 199 -58 Standard Bank 9 321 5 562 -3 759 That's a combined drop of over 8 000 ATMs since 2019. In contrast, however, Capitec is bucking the trend – having expanded its network from 5 011 in 2019 to 8 798 machines, now operating more ATMs than any other bank in South Africa. And this isn't just a local phenomenon. As reported by BusinessTech, a Merchant Machine study shows that countries worldwide are pulling back on ATMs. South Africa has been shedding ATMs at an average annual rate of 2.67% since 2012. At that pace, the country could have zero ATMs left in just 32 years. Well, a few forces are converging to drive this decline. These include: MyBroadBand reported that a joint report by Discovery Bank and Visa found that 84% of South Africans prefer digital payments or cards over cash. 67% use cash only a few times a month or not at all. Among younger consumers, 83% increased their use of digital payments in 2024 compared to 2023. As confidence in digital channels grows, so does the pressure on cash infrastructure. Fewer withdrawals mean less demand for ATMs. The drop in ATM usage is more noticeable among higher-income individuals, the very market that Standard Bank, FNB, Absa, and Nedbank largely serve. As this demographic leans heavily into digital, banks are adapting accordingly. Standard Bank's Kabelo Makeke also explained that the bank has rolled out new-generation ATMs which offer faster service and more features, such as real-time validation, cash recycling, and bulk cash handling. These machines do more with less, allowing banks to reduce total units without hurting service. 'We renewed our ATM network by introducing new technology devices with significantly improved transaction speed and overall quality of service,' Makeke said, as per MyBroadBand . And while they won't vanish overnight, the direction is clear: fewer ATMs, more digital banking. Unless something reverses the current trend, South Africa's ATM-free future may not be a question of if , but when . Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
2 days ago
- The Citizen
Private sector steps in amid ‘despicable conditions' at Johannesburg Master's Office
Yet another power outage leaves staff in an intolerable situation. 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. The latest power failure has been the last straw for the Johannesburg Attorneys Association (JAA). They have taken the bull by the horns and have reached out to their membership to assist financially with the purchase of a generator. Members of JAA said in a WhatsApp chat group they had to help. It is cold, people have no access to the internet, and they cannot print. Katherine Gascoigne, head of the Master's Office committee at the JAA, says the situation is intolerable. 'It is despicable that people are left to work in such conditions. No wonder the staff becomes despondent. They cannot charge their phones, laptops or even switch on a kettle for coffee or tea,' adds Gascoigne. Read more 'AI already reshaping traditional job functions,' says Microsoft SA The Fiduciary Institute of Southern Africa (Fisa) has joined the initiative and called for urgent private sector support to alleviate the dire situation at the Johannesburg Master's Office that has been without power for several days. Fisa CEO Louis van Vuren described the situation as 'untenable'. ALSO READ: Master's offices left rudderless due to lack of … masters 'It would appear that the landlord of the rented Master's Office building has for years resisted installing back-up power supply, meaning that the office is subject to power outages beyond its control – in this case, a blown substation.' Gascoigne says Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi is quite aware of the dire circumstances under which the staff are supposed to operate. The minister has been to the office and has herself been caught in a power outage while at the premises. Once there is a power outage, the lifts don't operate and there is no lighting or heating. Gascoigne says she has been whining about the situation for more than two years. Now they have to act. JAA has been in discussions to assist with the purchasing of a generator that will be sufficient to allow the busiest Master's Office in the country to keep the lights on. The building is not owned by government, and it is unclear when the current term of the lease agreement comes to an end. ALSO READ: The winding up of estates in SA is in shambles Stepping in Fisa added their voice and said it is inexplicable that the authorities are not taking the situation more seriously and doing all that is possible to assist staff who are trying their best under impossible conditions. 'It is clear that the private sector needs yet again to step in and support what is a civil service function,' says Van Vuren. 'Fisa has therefore taken the unprecedented step of approaching its members to consider making voluntary donations to assist with the purchasing of equipment for rechargeable lighting and mobile power stations for charging laptops, along with blankets and hot drinks.' ALSO READ: Minister no longer visiting 'problematic' Masters Office – here's why The Master's Office has in the past acknowledged the hardship caused by delays with the winding up of estates, the appointment of executors and the administration of trusts. The delays hinder the transfer of assets such as properties, vehicles, or investments, which may be crucial for the financial stability or livelihood of the beneficiaries. One of the immediate impacts is the financial hardship experienced by dependants and heirs who rely on the deceased's funds to meet their daily needs. In many cases, these funds are necessary to cover essential expenses such as school fees, medical costs, or even basic living costs. This article was republished from Moneyweb. Read the original here.
