Practical challenges relating to the supervision of small estates

Abstract

Previously, the supervision of the administration of deceased estates was divided along racial lines. Law reform has, however, seen the establishment of a single system that is fair to all South Africans - or is it? Following a brief contextualisation of the legal position on the supervision of deceased estates prior to, and following the definitive Moseneke judgement of 6 December 2000, this article sets out to examine whether the equality envisaged by that judgement and recent legislation pertaining to the supervision of small estates is actually being achieved. The research reveals some practical challenges, including poor service delivery at service points; banks renouncing their nomination as executor of small estates for a lack of sufficient financial benefit; the non-registration of customary marriages; the poor protection currently afforded to vulnerable minor beneficiaries of deceased estates, and the lack of a more affordable, accessible way than lengthy and costly court procedures to challenge a decision of the Master of the High Court. To address these challenges, it is recommended that service point infrastructure be strengthened; that banks be required to communicate more openly with their clients; that extensive awareness campaigns be launched on the urgent need for all customary marriages to be registered; that the agreement between government and Legal Aid South Africa, which is supposed to serve minor beneficiaries of deceased estates, be revisited, and that the possibility of an estate ombudsman be explored. Praktiese uitdagings in verband met toesig oor klein boedels Toesig oor die administrasie van bestorwe boedels is voorheen volgens rasselyne verdeel. Tog het regshervorming sedertdien 'n enkele stelsel tot stand gebring wat billik is teenoor alle Suid-Afrikaners - of is dit? Na 'n kort uiteensetting van die regstandpunt oor toesig oor bestorwe boedels voor en na die rigtinggewende Moseneke-uitspraak van 6 Desember 2000, ondersoek hierdie artikel of die gelykheid wat daardie uitspraak en onlangse wetgewing met betrekking tot toesig oor klein boedels beoog, werklik bereik word. Die navorsing bring sekere praktiese uitdagings aan die lig. Dit sluit in swak dienslewering by dienspunte; banke wat hul benoeming as eksekuteur van klein boedels laat vaar by gebrek aan voldoende finansiele voordeel; die nie-registrasie van gewoonteregtelike huwelike; die huidige swak beskerming van kwesbare minderjarige begunstigdes van bestorwe boedels, en die gebrek aan 'n meer bekostigbare, toeganklike metode as uitgerekte en duur hofverrigtinge om 'n besluit deur die Meester van die Hooggeregshof te betwis. Om hierdie uitdagings te hanteer, word daar aanbeveel dat die infrastruktuur van dienspunte versterk word; dat banke verplig word om meer openlik met hul kliente te kommunikeer; dat uitgebreide bewusmakingsveldtogte van stapel gestuur word oor die dringende behoefte om alle gewoonteregtelike huwelike te registreer; dat die ooreenkoms tussen die regering en die Regshulpraad van Suid-Afrika, wat veronderstel is om minderjarige begunstigdes van bestorwe boedels te dien, hersien word, en dat die moontlikheid van 'n ombudsman vir boedels verken word.