MBABANE – The report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into allegations of maladministration and malpractice in the Office of the Master of the High Court is currently being reviewed and will be subsequently released to the public.
This, the Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala said yesterday when he formally announced the completion of an intensive investigation into allegations of maladministration and malpractice in the Office of the Master of the High Court.
The commission, established in January 2024 and led by retired Supreme Court Judge Majahenkhaba Dlamini, delivered the report to the chief justice yesterday.
The commission was established following a surge in public grievances concerning the administration of deceased estates and the conduct of officials within the department.
Addressing the media alongside the commissioners, the chief justice noted that the volume of complaints necessitated a regional approach. To ensure accessibility for those unable to travel to the capital, the commission conducted sittings across various regions of Eswatini.
“The commissioners have informed me that they have completed the exercise of listening to all the complaints raised by affected members of the public across the country,” the chief justice stated.
He added that the team interviewed staff within the Master’s Office and received submissions from other departments to ensure a comprehensive review.
The Office of the Master of the High Court holds a critical mandate in Eswatini, overseeing the liquidation and distribution of deceased estates, the administration of the Guardian’s Fund and matters of insolvency.
In recent years, the office has faced scrutiny over delays, alleged procedural irregularities and the handling of inheritances.
Chairman of the commission, retired Judge Majahenkhaba Dlamini, acknowledged the complexity of the task.
While noting that the Master’s Office cooperated with the inquiry, he highlighted that certain matters remained outside the commission’s final reach.
“Some issues could not be concluded because there were cases pending in court,” Dlamini explained.
He further clarified that while some complaints targeted individual conduct, many others focused on the technicalities of how specific estates were distributed and whether correct legal processes were followed.
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