Kotzé and Roux Attorneys Inc.

02/09/2026

27/08/2026

Backlog at Pta Master with unpacked boxes of files for estates and Trusts - they started moving 18 May 2026

26/08/2026

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25/08/2026

Minister orders probe of Master’s Office dysfunction

Publish date: 24 August 2026
Issue Number: 6436
Diary: Legalbrief Today
Category: General

On an unannounced oversight visit to the Pretoria Master’s Office, following numerous complaints, Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi saw for herself the dysfunction of its IT system, reports GroundUp. She said the disruption of services at an office that provides ‘critical support to members of the public’ was concerning. She has asked the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and the Hawks to probe the department’s digitisation project. SIU spokesperson Selby Makgotho confirmed the Minister’s referral. The Minister said she expects ‘a thorough account of what transpired with the digitisation project’. ‘Any evidence of misconduct, negligence, corruption or deliberate actions … will be dealt with decisively,’ she said. The digitisation project was meant to speed up and improve services. But it has dragged on for years, remains unfinished, and appears to have had the opposite effect on efficiency.

Kubayi said the project had contributed to service disruptions at courts and Masters’ offices in Gauteng, KZN and the Western Cape. She expressed concern over allegations that the service provider, Veritas Engineering and Project Management Consultants (Pty) Ltd, was ‘denying’ officials access to state records. Veritas systems are implemented across various justice offices within the Western Cape, KZN and Gauteng, including High Courts, Magistrate's Courts, Labour Courts and Masters’ offices. Spokesperson for the Minister, Palesa Rammitlwa, told GroundUp that Veritas sent a letter, apologising for the disruption, blaming ‘instability within the department’s network infrastructure’. She confirmed that ‘access to the Veritas portal has been restored’ and officials are addressing the backlog of transactions. The Department of Justice said the investigation will probe whether the contract gave a private company access to government records, whether government policies and laws were followed, whether the contracts provided value for money, and whether departmental negligence contributed to the collapse of services. Veritas has not commented.

Full GroundUp report

05/08/2026

Update from Pretoria Master’s Offices since they started to move 18 May 2026:

“Update at Master Pretoria:

1. Ms Nthabiseng Ntsoane’s appointment as acting Master PTA wasn’t renewed after the 1 year period lapsed.

2. ⁠Ms Hlopina Moshidi was appointed as the new acting Master PTA and will remain in this position until a permanent appointment is made.

3. ⁠The Master PTA doesn’t have a stable network cable installed. Upon moving into the office, a temporary fibre cable was installed. Installation of a permanent cable will first be discussed with stakeholders (DOJ, Dept of Public Works, SITA and Telkom).

4. ⁠A temporary VPN was set up for personnel to access the DOJ system from their private internet.

5. ⁠No network cable = telephones. Cell phones was made available for Deputy Masters to make contact with.

6. ⁠The contract with Veritas storage facility is extended on a month-to-month basis until all the files are scanned. If a file cannot be obtained by the Master / Veritas, a dummy file (duplicate file) can be opened at the Master.

7. ⁠Manual / paper submissions of new trusts are not permitted, as per instructions of the Office of the Chief Master.

8. ⁠All files have been stored correctly in the new office. The Master is currently working on the backlog.

9. ⁠The current backlog on *Deceased Estates*: 13,000 outstanding items (statistics on 4 Aug 2026).”

22/07/2026

Update from Acting Master Pretoria after they started moving 18 May 2026…

20/07/2026

SMALL CLAIMS COURT LIMIT INCREASES TO R30 000

From 1 August 2026, the monetary limit of the Small Claims Court increases from R20 000 to R30 000. The increase was published in Government Gazette No. 55038 on 20 July 2026.

The Small Claims Court provides individuals with a quicker and more affordable way to pursue certain civil claims without legal representation at the hearing.

Examples may include:

• Money lent but not repaid
• Unpaid accounts or deposits
• Damage to property
• Breach of contract
• Claims for the delivery or return of property

An individual may institute a claim against another individual or a business. However, a company, close corporation or association may not institute a claim in the Small Claims Court, and claims may not be brought against the State or a municipality. Legal practitioners may advise and assist beforehand, but may not represent the parties during the hearing.

Before approaching the court, the claimant must generally send a written letter of demand and allow the debtor 14 days to comply. If the matter remains unresolved, the claimant may approach the Small Claims Court Clerk at the relevant Magistrate’s Court for assistance.

The increased limit means that more individuals will be able to pursue smaller civil claims without the expense and formality of ordinary litigation.

Kotzé & Roux Attorneys Inc. can assist with assessing your claim, preparing a letter of demand and advising you on the correct procedure before the matter proceeds to the Small Claims Court.

13/07/2026

Pretoria Master’s Office still not operation even though officials say it is…

The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has provided details about service disruptions at the Pretoria and Cape Town Master’s Offices, including inaccessible physical files, network problems, processing delays and backlogs.

19/06/2026

Pretoria Master of the High Court starting moving 18 May 2026. Nothing can be done since then even though they issue notices like this