NO SAFE, WILLS KEPT IN DRAWERS AT MASTER’S OFFICE

MANZINI – There are safety concerns at the Manzini Master’s office as far as the storage of wills for undistributed accounts is concerned.

A will, also known as a last will and testament, is a legal document that specifies how a person’s assets should be distributed after their death. It can also be used to name guardians for dependants, children or pets, and to provide financial support for family members. The security concern emanates from two break-ins that were experienced at the office as the wills are stored in cupboard drawers. This was revealed by Manzini Assistant Master Makhosazana Mdluli, when addressing members of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry meant to look into alleged irregularities and corrupt practices within the Master’s Office.

The commission, which was set up by the Chief Justice, Bheki Maphalala, consists of five judges and is headed by Supreme Court Judge Majahenkhaba Dlamini, who is deputised by High Court Judge Mzwandile Fakudze. Other members of the commission are Industrial Court Judge President Sifiso Nsibande, High Court Judge Maxine Langwenya, Industrial Court Judge Lorraine Hlophe and its Secretary is Deputy Supreme Court Registrar, Siphiwo Nyoni. The members of the commission, except Langwenya, yesterday toured the Master’s offices at Siteki, Simunye and the last stop was Manzini.

Mdluli told the commission that they did not have a safe to keep the wills and the alternative and preferred place were the drawers of the cupboards within the office. She admitted that the security of the wills was not guaranteed, especially given that they have had two break-ins at the office, but nothing significant was stolen. Mdluli said her suspicions were that the people who broke into the office were probably thinking that the Master’s office kept cash within their offices, yet master’s fee payments are made at the Revenue.

“We have an account at Treasury that was opened to specifically keep master’s fees on behalf of the office and people make payments at revenues across the country,” she said.
Manzini Deputy Master Lindelwa Magagula revealed that previously, people were paying the master’s fees at the office and getting receipts, but that was done away with. Mdluli revealed that the ideal way to store the wills would be to computerise their system, so that everything is digital, instead of the old and outdated manual system.

She revealed that the manual system also disadvantaged them in that they had to check manually with the other regional Master’s offices to determine if a distribution, account does have a will or not. A distribution account, also known as a liquidation and distribution account, is a summary of a deceased estate’s assets, liabilities and transactions. It shows how the net assets are distributed to the beneficiaries and the value of the assets distributed.   

“Due to this anomaly, sometimes we get to know that a distribution account has a will at the peak of the distribution which then disrupts the whole process,” she said.
Judge Fakudze raised the issue of the security of the wills, speculating that some people with ulterior motives could collude with employees, even a cleaner for that matter, to steal the will from the drawers. The other concern bordering on security was that the officials were sometimes harassed by individuals suspected to be mentally disturbed, so much that there is now a security officer manning the place.

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