458 estates finalised in 3 months
NAME OF COURT
Supreme Court
1. Civil Jurisdiction
2. Criminal Jurisdiction
High Court Civil
1. Jurisdiction
2. Criminal Jurisdiction
Appeals from the Magistrates Court
Reviews from the Magistrates’ Court
Industrial Court of Appeal
Industrial Court
Mbabane Magistracy
1. Civil Jurisdiction
2. Criminal Jurisdiction
Manzini Magistracy
1. Civil Jurisdiction
2. Criminal Jurisdiction
Lubombo Magistracy
1. Civil Jurisdiction
2. Criminal Jurisdiction
Shiselweni Magistracy
1. Civil Jurisdiction
2. Criminal Jurisdiction
Pigg’s Peak Magistracy
1. Civil Jurisdiction
2. Criminal Jurisdiction
MANZINI – The Offices of the Master of the High Court has finalised 458 estates in three months.
The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Second Quarter Report for this financial year states that in the Hhohho Region, 69 estates were finalised while 350 were finalised in the Manzini Region.
Also, it was reported that 24 estates were finalised in the Lubombo Region, while 15 were completed in the Shiselweni Region.
These add up to 458 finalised estates while on the other hand, it was reported that 220 estates were still pending.
The master of the High Court, according to the report, is guided by the Administration of Estates Act of 1902 and other pieces of legislation are responsible for the administration of estates of deceased and insolvent persons in accordance with the applicable statutory laws.
They are also responsible for the protection of the interest of minors and legally incapacitated persons, the protection and administration of the funds of minors, contractually incapacitated, undermined and absent heirs, which had been paid into the Guardian’s Fund.
Also, they are responsible for the supervision of the administration of companies and close corporations in accordance with the relevant statutory laws, the safeguarding of all documentary material received by the master in respect of estates, insolvencies, liquidations, trusts; the processing of queries by executors, attorneys, beneficiaries and
DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES DONE ON DECEASED’S ESTATES AND COMPANIES PUT UNDER LIQUIDATION
Deceased estate reported
Next of kin meetings held
Executors appointed
Wills registered
estates
Pending estates
Companies in Liquidation
finalised
Pending
Responsible
HHOHHO 93 156 79 52 69 91 2 0 2
MANZINI 114 249 238
Finalised 350 83
Companies
Companies -
106 59
8 88
157 402
110 256 other interested parties and the appointment of impartial and capable persons as executors, trustees, curators and liquidators.
On the other hand, the Office of the Master of the High Court in its duties, has the responsibility of the Guardian Fund which is a statutory fund that makes deposits of the Guardian’s Fund, Dormant Accounts and Master’s Fees of Office. This special fund, held with the Central Bank of Eswatini (CBE) has a current interest rate in the Guardian’s Fund still remains calculated at 6.5 per cent per annum.
“Money belonging to deceased persons emanating, inter alia, from gratuities and death terminal benefits amount to a total of E 31 962 941.82.
These monies have been dully deposited by the master into the Guardians’ Fund. This fund forms part of the consolidated fund and are requisitioned in the normal government procedures,” reads the report in part.
It was reported that the total revenue collected from regional revenues was E 15 907 414.55 while the total collected by Master’s Office was recorded at E16 055 527.27. This totals E31 962 941.82.
The Office of the Master of High Court reported that there was a decrease in its coffers of E18 255 757.67 due excess payments made to beneficiaries over deposits collected.
It was highlighted that collections made at Regional Revenue Offices in September 2022 had not reached the Guardian’s Fund as yet.
LUBOMBO 63 58 65
Finalised 24 12
Companies
Companies -
141 289
71 199
Emanating
SHISELWENI 43 34 32
Finalised 15 34 - - -
PENDING/ BACKLOG CASES
62 32
256 120
619 1 199 470
112 221
1393 3 236
91 364
122 172
47 189
TOTAL 313 497 414 4